Diego Costa appeal: Chelsea must make decision over striker by 6pm today

The Spain international could miss three games if found guilty

Simon Rice
Tuesday 22 September 2015 07:46 BST
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Diego Costa
Diego Costa (GETTY IMAGES)

Chelsea will make a decision today on whether to appeal against the Football Association's charge of violent conduct against Diego Costa.

They have been given until 6pm this evening to respond.

Costa has been cited for an incident involving Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny during the fiery north London derby at Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime. The Spain striker flailed an arm in the face of his opponent and then chested Koscielny to the ground. Referee Mike Dean missed some or all of the incident between the two.

Should Chelsea accept the charge and Costa is found guilty by the FA's disciplinary panel, he could miss the next three Chelsea games. That would rule him out of tomorrow's Capital One Cup tie against Walsall, and then the Premier League matches with Newcastle and Southampton.

The FA said in a statement: "Diego Costa has been charged for an alleged act of violent conduct which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.

"The Chelsea forward was involved in an incident with Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny in the 43rd minute of the game. He has until 6pm (on Tuesday) to reply.

"Off-the-ball incidents which are not seen at the time by the match officials are referred to a panel of three former elite referees."

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