Chelsea must make do without striker Diego Costa for the next three matches after the Football Association upheld a charge of violent conduct. Given their success in overturning the initial red card, it appears likely that they will also contest that charge and argue that there is mitigation in respect of Dean’s decision.
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FA board member Heather Rabbatts has expressed her “sadness and anger” at suggestions that club doctor Eva Carneiro has left Chelsea following her conflict with manager Jose Mourinho.
Costa had been booked for chest-bumping Koscielny to the ground, but officials missed the majority of his in-game antics.
Costa was suspended for his actions during the Blues’ 2-0 victory over Arsenal on Saturday, in which he clashed with Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel.
“We are extremely disappointed with the FA Regulatory Commission’s decision to suspend Diego Costa“.
He will serve an automatic suspension with immediate effect if he accepts, or an independent regulatory commission will rule on the issue if he contests the charge. “We will await their written reasons before commenting further”.
But the FA said Tuesday that the 24-year-old Brazilian still faces a separate charge of improper conduct as he did not leave the pitch immediately after being shown the red card by referee Mike Dean on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Chelsea team-mate Kurt Zouma unwittingly found himself at the centre of a storm after saying in a television interview that Costa “likes to cheat a lot”.
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The FA had earlier rescinded Gabriel’s own three-match punishment after he was sent off during the game for kicking out at Costa.
