Diego
Costa's extraordinary stand-off with Chelsea continues - 5,000 miles apart
and light-years away from any agreement.
Chelsea want him back from Brazil but, in his latest interview, Costa claims
he has faced a "lack of respect".
At Friday's pre-match news conference Antonio Conte burst into laughter when
he was asked about the Spain international.
Conte said: "I can tell you that everyone who works in Chelsea knows very
well what happened last season with him. It's funny, this interview."
Costa appears to have considered a return to the club if offered a "fair
situation".
"If I go back," Costa told ESPN. "I have to see if things would be clean,
just and correct. If I go back now I don't think it will be a fair
situation. It won't be an honest fight for a position."
Chelsea's head coach was questioned over whether he would consider playing
him again and replied: "Who? I'm not interested to continue this issue. For
me, is the past. Stop."
"Our position is fairly clear," added Steve Atkins, Chelsea's head of
communications and public affairs. "As a Chelsea player we've said that he
should return to Chelsea and that's where we will leave it."
So what happens if Costa continues to refuse to return?
He has already been fined two week's wages and can continue to be fined by
the club during his absence.
The Premier League board could be asked to intervene.
Section T.31 of this season's handbook, 'Disputes between Clubs and
Players', states: "Any dispute… may be referred in writing by either party
to the Board for consideration and adjudication in such manner as the Board
may think fit."
Another option for Chelsea would be FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber but it
is understood no formal complaint has been received by world football's
governing body.
FIFA will not comment on potential disputes and a spokesperson told Sky
Sports News: "As a general rule, the decision-making bodies of FIFA are
competent to hear employment-related disputes between a club and a player of
an international dimension unless the parties have explicitly agreed for
such dispute to be decided by an independent arbitration tribunal."
The Football Association will also monitor developments and, as a last
resort, the Court of Arbitration for Sport could be asked to mediate and
resolve contractual disputes.
Ultimately, Chelsea have a valuable asset that doesn't want to stay.
He signed a five-year deal until 2019 and, by rejecting club orders to
return, seems to be in breach of contract.
The fact Atletico Madrid "can't get near" Chelsea's asking price, according
to Costa, will be of no concern to the Premier League champions.
A key question now as the countdown continues to transfer deadline day - who
blinks first?
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