Diego Costa slammed for making Coronavirus joke after Atletico’s win over Liverpool in the round of 16 UEFA Champions League encounter.
For all the resolve and class his side showed during the second leg of their clash with Liverpool, Diego Costa showed none of it following Atletico Madrid’s victory at Anfield. While the world is cowering in fear because of Coronavirus, for some reason, the striker saw it fitting to make light of the pandemic.
Also read: Juventus superstar Daniele Rugani tests positive for coronavirus
The Spanish striker was seen walking past journalists in the mixed zone after the match. Costa ignored requests for an interview by theatrically coughing and laughing at the reporters. Unfortunately, he was the only person laughing with many struggling to see the funny side of a crisis that has killed more than 4,300 people worldwide.
Diego Costa slammed for making Coronavirus joke after Atletico’s win over Liverpool
What on earth is happening to this guy?!
The whole world is panic because of coronavirus and Diego Costa think this is a joke? Suspend him from playing @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/JAHxIwbQiu
— Raltinelli (@Ema_Ralte) March 12, 2020
Diego Costa is a madman pic.twitter.com/thZQmzusFM
— RrT (@RealRTalk1) March 12, 2020
The attempt at humour was clearly not in good taste especially with the World Health Organisation officially declaring the outbreak a Pandemic.
Diego Costa just walked through the mixed zone fake coughing at everyone as he went down the line. Not particularly funny or appropriate.
— Carl Markham (@carlmarkham) March 11, 2020
Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa has just come through the mixed zone pretending to cough at reporters.
Not nice. Not funny either. #coronavirus #LIVATL #championsleague #Anfield #liverpool pic.twitter.com/z3wQOadmQu
— Antonello Guerrera (@antoguerrera) March 11, 2020
Nothing like humour… and that was nothing like humour from Diego Costa. Walks through mixed zone, ignores all requests from Spanish media for interviews then coughs – theatrically – repeatedly as he breezes past. He was the only who laughed.
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) March 11, 2020
Juventus defender Daniele Rugani has become the first footballer to test positive for the virus and all sporting events in Italy have been shut down for at least the next month.
Several football leagues in Europe have either been postponed/suspended or will be played behind closed doors. Premier League matches are set to be played behind closed doors as Britain is set to switch from a ‘contain’ policy to ‘delay’, with advice on ‘social distancing’ to stop the disease from spreading.
There have also been reports that suggest that UEFA are considering cancelling both the Champions League and Europa League after the last-16. While there are now serious doubts over Euro 2020, which is being held all over Europe.
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