(MENAFN- Arab Times) LONDON Jan 30 (AFP): Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been banned for three matches with immediate effect after being found guilty of a violent conduct charge the Football Association announced Friday. The Spain international was suspended after a regulatory commission ruled he had stamped on the ankle of Liverpool's Emre Can in the 12th minute of Tuesday's League Cup semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge which Chelsea won 1-0 to complete a 2-1 aggregate victory.
There is no right of appeal and Costa will now miss Premier League leaders Chelsea's match at home to title rivals Manchester City on Saturday and subsequent games against Aston Villa and Everton. The incident was reviewed on video by referee Michael Oliver after the match official did not see it in real time. Costa denied the charge of violent conduct levelled against him on Wednesday ahead of Thursday's 1800 GMT deadline. However the charge was upheld Friday and Costa banned immediately. 'Diego Costa will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after a charge of violent conduct against him was found proven by an independent regulatory commission today (Friday)' said a statement issued by the Football Association the English game's governing body. 'The Chelsea forward had denied the charge in relation to an on-field incident involving Liverpool's Emre Can which occurred in the 12th minute of the League Cup semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday Jan 27 2015. 'The incident was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.' Reaction to the incidents involving Costa and Can and Liverpool's Martin Skrtel over which the FA took no action dominated the aftermath of a game where Branislav Ivanovic scored an extra-time winner. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said the Brazil-born Costa's challenge on Can was 'poor' and could have caused a 'nasty' injury. But Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said the two incidents had been 'absolutely accidental' and blamed television pundits for whipping up controversy over what had happened. Chelsea seemingly unwilling to make any further comment about the issue before a decision was reached cancelled Friday's pre-match news conference even though they are obliged to hold one under Premier League rules. That move came just days after Mourinho was fined 25000 ($38000 34500 euros) by the FA after he claimed Chelsea were the victims of a media-led 'campaign' over diving allegations that was putting referees under pressure. Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic has warned Manchester City that the Premier League leaders are back to full power heading into their seismic showdown at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Jose Mourinho's side are five points clear of second placed City and Ivanovic claims they are confident of extending that lead over the champions after a much-needed morale boost in the League Cup in midweek. Stung by their humiliating FA Cup fourth round defeat against third tier Bradford last weekend the Blues responded impressively by booking a League Cup final berth thanks to a 1-0 semi-final second leg win over Liverpool. The victory was secured by Ivanovic's extra-time goal and the Serbia international celebrated by insisting the result was a sign Chelsea are ready to hit peak form in the crucial clash against City. 'We showed the real power of our team and in the end deserved to be in the final' Ivanovic said. 'We know we can improve and we'll improve in the next couple of games.' Toure's exit has coincided with a run of three games without a win for City including damaging back to back home defeats against Arsenal in the league and then second tier Middlesbrough in the FA Cup. But City manager Manuel Pellegrini is adamant his players including veteran midfielder Frank Lampard who is set for his first return to Chelsea since leaving the Bridge at the end of last season are still confident of overhauling the Blues. 'I am concerned not because of the Chelsea game but because in the last two games at home we didn't score goals and we conceded two goals in each' he said. 'But we don't have any problem with motivation. I think we are going to work hard and I hope we can win at Stamford Bridge.' A City defeat would offer encouragement to Southampton and Manchester United that they could leapfrog Pellegrini's team. But third placed Southampton five points behind City host Swansea on Sunday with boss Ronald Koeman battling a growing injury list. Already hit by injuries to Toby Alderweireld Victor Wanyama Morgan Schneiderlin Sam Gallagher and Jay Rodriguez the Saints suffered another blow this week when Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long was ruled out for six weeks with fractured ribs. United sitting 12 points adrift of Chelsea in fourth place need to get back on track against bottom of the table Leicester after failing to beat fourth tier Cambridge in the FA Cup last week. That lacklustre display underlined United's problems in attack this season. Dutch forward Robin van Persie has scored just once in his last six appearances and he lifted the lid on his team's frustration in some candid comments this week. 'Obviously we are not scoring enough goals including me' van Persie said. 'Everyone feels responsible. I do definitely. This year I have played something like 20 games and I have scored eight goals. 'I am not happy with that. I want to score more.' Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has no concerns about how Daniel Sturridge will fit into his redefined formation ahead of the striker's long-awaited comeback from injury. Sturridge will be in Liverpool's squad for their Premier League clash against West Ham at Anfield having not played for the Reds since the end of August with calf and thigh problems. However Rodgers reverted to a fluid 3-4-3 system during a lean spell of results in Sturridge's absence and Liverpool saw a marked improvement. 'We are very much built around the collective but it doesn't half help when you have someone to finish it off at the top end of the field and have that power and pace that Daniel has' Rodgers said.
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