Diego Costa is facing a potential three-match ban after being charged with “an alleged act of violent conduct” by the Football Association in the wake of Chelsea’s fractious derby victory over Arsenal on Saturday.
The governing body confirmed in a statement on Monday evening that the referee, Mike Dean, had not witnessed Costa’s clash with Laurent Koscielny two minutes before the interval.
The Spain forward put his hands in the defender’s face, and then swung his left arm round and made further contact with Koscielny, who he then chest-bumped to the turf when the centre-half reacted to the contact.
As the incident was not seen by Dean, the FA has the power to refer the case to a panel of three former elite referees who will review the video footage to determine whether an offence worthy of a red card had taken place. Costa has until 6pm on Tuesday to respond to the charge.
“Each referee panel member will review the video footage independently of one another to determine whether they consider it a sending off offence,” said the FA in a statement. “For retrospective action to be taken, and an FA charge to follow, the decision by the panel must be unanimous.”
The Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista, despite initially appearing to be acting as a peacemaker, had clashed with Costa immediately after the spat with Koscielny, with striker and defender booked. However, they continued to row while retreating back to the halfway line, where Gabriel flicked a heel at the striker, prompting Dean, after consulting one of his assistants, to dismiss the Brazilian defender.
Gabriel has been charged with improper conduct after arguing his case in the aftermath of the red card, and having to be ushered from the turf by his team-mate Héctor Bellerín and Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic and Oscar.
Arsenal have submitted a dual claim for wrongful dismissal and, given Arsène Wenger had admitted his defender’s indiscipline on Saturday, excessive punishment with the FA over Gabriel. They are seeking in a worst-case scenario to have the player’s three-match ban, which begins against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, reduced to two games.
Santi Cazorla, who was dismissed late on after receiving a second yellow card, has been warned for his behaviour following his own red card.
The clubs, too, have been charged for failing to control their players under FA Rule E20. Arsenal, Chelsea and Gabriel have until 6pm on Thursday to respond. Costa was banned for three matches in January after video footage, watched retrospectively, confirmed he had stamped on Liverpool’s Emre Can during a Capital One Cup semi-final game between the clubs at Stamford Bridge.
