Diego Costa charged

LONDON. — Chelsea look like paying a heavy price for Diego Costa’s explosive performance against Liverpool, with the striker likely to be banned for Saturday’s title decider against Manchester City.

In a move likely to add to Jose Mourinho’s conspiracy theory, Costa was on Wednesday night charged with violent conduct by the FA after they reviewed video evidence of his clash with Liverpool’s Emre Can during the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg on Tuesday.

Referee Michael Oliver missed the incident, as did fourth official Phil Dowd, but Costa has now been charged retrospectively and faces a mandatory three-game ban.

He had until 8pm last night to respond to the charge and if he disputes it, which it is understood he is likely to do, a three-man FA commission will sit today and deliver a verdict.

If found guilty, Chelsea’s 17-goal top-scorer will miss not only tomorrow’s game against City, who are five points behind in the title race, but also games at Aston Villa next Saturday and at home against Everton on February 11.

The loss of the volatile striker is a major blow for Chelsea manager Mourinho at a crucial stage of the season — but it could have been worse. No action was taken against Costa for a similar incident involving Martin Skrtel later in Tuesday’s game, which Chelsea won 1-0 to progress to the Capital One Cup final on March 1.

Mourinho, who was fined £25 000 on Wednesday for his comments that there was a “campaign” to influence referees’ decisions against his side, has escaped any further punishment for appearing to talk to referee Oliver in the tunnel at half-time during the semi-final.

Costa clashed with Can on the touchline in front of the dugouts and appeared to bring his foot down on the German’s ankle, but no match officials saw the incident. — The Daily Express.