Chelsea were left fuming on Tuesday evening after Diego Costa was handed a three-match ban by the Football Association for violent conduct. The decision means Costa will miss upcoming matches against Walsall, Newcastle, and Southampton. The club expressed their disappointment, stating they would await the FA Regulatory Commission’s written reasons before commenting further.
The incident that led to Costa’s ban occurred during Chelsea’s clash with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. The striker was retrospectively charged after television footage showed him putting his hands in the face of Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny and later catching him with a flailing arm. Referee Mike Dean did not see the incident at the time.
Shortly after, Arsenal’s Gabriel Paulista received a straight red card for flicking his boot towards Costa’s shins during a confrontation. However, Gabriel’s suspension was overturned by the FA after an appeal from Arsenal, adding to Chelsea’s frustration.
Costa, who was booked for chest-bumping Koscielny in the same game, has now been suspended twice based on TV evidence since joining Chelsea, having previously received a three-match ban for a stamp on Liverpool’s Emre Can in January. The decision has once again angered José Mourinho, who feels Costa’s behavior, while provocative, did not cross the line into violence.
Chelsea staff believe that Costa plays on the edge but remains in control, knowing how to avoid anything too blatant. Nevertheless, the FA fast-tracked his case to ensure a resolution before Chelsea’s Capital One Cup match against Walsall. Costa will now also miss Premier League games against Newcastle and Southampton.
The ban makes Costa the 60th top-flight player to be charged by the FA for an offense unseen by match officials since the 2004-05 season. Despite their frustrations, Chelsea will have to cope without their star striker for the next three matches.
