|
Chelsea striker Diego Costa is contesting the Football Association's charge for violent conduct -- a move which has the full support of the club. The Spain international is facing an immediate three-match ban for his apparent stamp on the Liverpool's Emre Can during Tuesday's Capital One Cup semifinal second leg at Stamford Bridge, which the Blues won 1-0 to progress 2-1 on aggregate. Costa has until 6 p.m. GMT to respond to the charge of violent conduct, with the panel meeting on Friday to decide the outcome which could see him miss the weekend's game with Man City and perhaps an extra-game ban for a "frivolous" appeal. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has insisted that both stamps were "absolutely accidental," while Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers described the striker's actions as "poor." Former Premier League official Mark Halsey says top-flight officials must be more aware of Costa's aggressive nature before a player gets "a serious injury," adding: "There's a side of Costa that we don't want in our game. Aggression is what makes him the great player he is. But he has that bit of devil in him. "Referees have to go into games aware of what Costa is. You know when Costa goes into a challenge, something could happen." The incidents occurred during Chelsea's semifinal victory over Liverpool, which sees the Blues into the Capital One Cup final against Tottenham on March 1. Costa would miss that Wembley match should the FA decide he has launched a "frivolous" appeal.
|
