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| Diego Costa has an altercation with Gabriel |
HARRY REDKNAPP believes Chelsea's Diego Costa should not be punished by the Football Association after his altercation with Arsenal defender Gabriel.
The pair clashed late on in the first half of Saturday's fixture and resulted in referee Mike Dean brandishing a red card to the Brazilian for a back heel flick at the Spaniard.
Costa was defended by his boss Jose Mourinho and heavily criticised by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger after the match for his actions.
But Redknapp thinks managers and fans would have the controversial striker in their team and reckons he should not receive retrospective disciplinary action from the FA.
He told the Telegraph: "He plays the game, swinging arms about, hitting people, but you would like to have him in your team. He upsets the opposition and he is also a very accomplished footballer. His movement is good, he can finish well and he is strong in the air.
"I thought when the referee got involved on Saturday that he would be sent off but Mike Dean has really missed what went on. It was a surprise how it panned out.
"Gabriel was obviously silly for reacting as he did but I also thought Jose Mourinho was brave to keep Costa on.
"It could have backfired and I personally would have substituted him at half-time. I thought he was going to be sent off.
"People will now be talking about retrospective disciplinary action but I think that would be wrong. I do not think he should get a ban. I really don’t believe Saturday’s incident merited that. He has not elbowed someone in the face off the ball or gone over the top in a tackle.
"It was niggly stuff rather than trying to hurt someone."
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