Diego Costa has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association after a stamp on Liverpool's Emre Can during Tuesday's Capital One Cup semi-final second leg. The Chelsea striker will now face a three-match suspension unless he successfully appeals, meaning he would miss Saturday's crucial Premier League clash with Manchester City.
The incident, which occurred in the 12th minute of the match at Stamford Bridge, was not seen by referee Michael Oliver. However, the FA reviewed video footage and deemed the stamp a red-card offence. Oliver confirmed on Wednesday that he would have sent Costa off had he witnessed the challenge.
A separate alleged stamp on Martin Skrtel after the interval was considered accidental, and the FA will take no further action on that incident. Costa, who has until 6pm on Thursday to respond to the charge, is expected to appeal. An independent FA commission will sit on Friday to hear evidence under the fast-track system.
The ban would also rule Costa out of the visits to Aston Villa on 7 February and the home game against Everton four days later. José Mourinho, the Chelsea manager, maintains that the stamp was accidental, but the FA has already fined him £25,000 for claiming a media campaign was being waged against his team after Cesc Fàbregas's yellow card for diving against Southampton.
