Zouma backtracks on Costa "cheat" claims

London - Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma has said he did not mean to accuse his team-mate Diego Costa of "cheating" by getting an Arsenal player sent off when the two sides clashed in the Premier League on Saturday.

Spain forward Costa was involved in a spat with several Arsenal players, which resulted in defender Gabriel being sent off and Costa himself only given a yellow card.

The Football Association may yet punish Costa retroactively for his part in the incident and Zouma fanned the flames when he told BeIn Sports that his team-mate had cheated Arsenal.

"No, we're not surprised because we know Diego," he said. "Everyone knows Diego and this guy likes to cheat a lot and put the opponent out of his game.

"That happened in the game but he's a really nice guy. We're proud to have him, like the other players, and we're happy to win this game today."

On Monday, Zouma issued an apology on Twitter, saying: "Sorry for any confusion, English is not my first language & I did not mean to accuse anyone of cheating.

"Simply to say, Diego is a player who puts pressure on his opponents & who I have huge respect for."