For once, Chelsea appear to be on the other side of a potential tapping up scandal. Atletico Madrid’s pursuit of Chelsea striker Diego Costa is veering from aggressive with a side of desperation to violating global football rules and norms.
Atletico’s actions have become so out of line that Chelsea has now sent two letters to the Spanish club, warning them to end their attempts to bring Costa back to Madrid.
"Chelsea already sent one letter to Atletico warning them about their previous comments regarding Costa and are prepared to make contact again with a more strongly-worded rebuke if the Spanish club maintain their aggressive transfer tactics. – Telegraph"
Chelsea would not activate their legal and public relations teams if Atletico’s overtures towards Costa were merely annoying or in the normal course of business. Chelsea is establishing a paper trail of their efforts to formally counter Atletico’s actions in case this matter goes in front of FIFA or the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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By leaking word of their letters to the press, Chelsea is opening a second front against Atletico Madrid in the realm of public opinion. If Madrid does not respond to the threats of arbitration and potential fines, perhaps the loss of reputation and good faith will be more effective.
Both clubs rightly covet Diego Costa. Costa was Chelsea’s most potent goal-scorer in their 2014/15 Premier League championship season. Chelsea’s addition of Michy Batshuayi will open new offensive possibilities for Costa as part of a striking tandem, rather than being the often-abandoned front man of Chelsea’s previous 4-2-3-1.
Atletico Madrid sees Costa as the key to propel them out of their recent role as perennial bridesmaids. Atletico is coming off of consecutive third-place finishes in La Liga, and two Champions League finals appearances in the last three years. Their last La Liga championship came in 2013/14, when Diego Costa scored 27 goals, double that of the club’s second-most prolific scorer.
must read: Diego Costa deal 'close': Do Chelsea need him?
Last month, Napoli’s club president Aurelio de Laurentis accused Chelsea of tapping up transfer target Kalidou Koulibaly. De Laurentis called out Chelsea in the press, but did not issue any written or formal complaints against Chelsea.
Over the last decade, Chelsea has been involved in several tapping up scandals. The most notable included bringing Ashley Cole in from Arsenal, and securing Gael Kakuta from Ligue 1 club Lens. In each case, Chelsea got their man but ended up paying fines upon rulings from the Football Association and FIFA, respectively. FIFA made an unprecedented ruling in the Kakuta case by issuing Chelsea a two-year transfer ban. Chelsea appealed this decision to Court of Arbitration for Sport, which ratified a settlement between Chelsea and Lens that vacated the transfer ban.
Sufficient reports of Diego Costa’s unhappiness in England (not necessarily with Chelsea) have surfaced to make them somewhat credible. He offensive frustrations last year could only have compounded any cultural or weather-related dissatisfactions with life in the Premier League.
Normally, a happy striker is a productive striker. In Diego Costa’s case, an angry fists-of-rage striker may be his preferred and productive state of being. Costa backed off his transfer desires when the club confirmed Antonio Conte’s hiring. Costa, Chelsea and Conte appeared to coalesce until Atletico Madrid raised the stakes.
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Chelsea has everything on their side legally – if not ethically, given their history – regarding Costa’s contract and Atletico Madrid’s unauthorized contacts with and pursuit of Costa. Between the expense of replacing Costa and the headaches Atletico Madrid are causing Chelsea, if Chelsea decides to transfer Costa they will ensure Atletico Madrid pays handsomely for the player and the aggravation.