Diego Costa banned for three matches

Diego Costa will serve a three-match suspension after he was found guilty of violent conduct, the FA have announced.

 

Costa had been cited for an incident involving Gunners defender Laurent Koscielny in his side's 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.

“An FA charge against Diego Costa for violent conduct not seen by the match officials but caught on video has been found proven following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing,” a statement read on the FA website.

“The Chelsea forward will, therefore, serve the standard penalty of a three-match suspension with immediate effect.

“The charge, which the player denied, was in relation to an incident involving Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny in the 43rd minute of the game on Saturday [19 September 2015].”

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OUR VIEW

This represents Costa’s second retrospective three-match ban for violent conduct as a Chelsea player; his first, of course, after the League Cup semi-final against Liverpoollast season. Chelsea were in a dominant position then, though. They were cantering in the league and went on to win the League Cup. This season, though, they desperately need one of their best players on the pitch and he will be sorely, sorely missed.

However, looking at the footage of the match, it is hard to argue with the decision.

Chelsea can only hope that Radamel Falcao regains some of his lethality in front of goal otherwise the Blues will struggle for goals while without Costa.