Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa reportedly refused to show up for Thursday’s training session after being fined for a recent misdemeanour.
Spanish outlets including Marca, claim the former Chelsea forward was told on Wednesday that he’d been fined by the club for the comments towards referee Jesus Gil Marcano.
It was at that point then that the Spanish international decided not to head for training despite being fully fit.
The incident preceding his fine comes after lashing at the match official who sent in him off in their 2-0 defeat to Barca on April 6.
The comments and the touching of the referee's arm has seen the forward banned for eight league matches by the Spanish Football Federation, meaning he will miss the rest of the LaLiga season.
Atleti general manager Clemente Villaverde criticised the forward’s behaviour afterwards, as ‘reprehensible and seriously damaged the club’.
Pertaining matters on the field, the second-place Atleti trail the league leaders Barca by nine points with six matches to go and travel to Eibar on Saturday.
