English FA charges Chelsea's Costa with improper conduct
Posted March 14, 2016 7:00 am
LONDON (AP) - The English Football Association has charged Chelsea striker Diego Costa with improper conduct after being sent off in Saturday's FA Cup loss at Everton.
Costa earned a second yellow card after thrusting his head at Gareth Barry before making a biting motion toward the midfielder's neck. Both players said there was no bite.
Costa also confronted the referee and the FA has given him until Thursday to respond to the charge that his behavior after the sending off "amounted to improper conduct."
The FA has also given Costa until Wednesday to provide his observations about "an alleged gesture he made towards Everton supporters while leaving the pitch at half time."
Costa is facing having his automatic one-match ban increased.
Chelsea's Diego Costa, centre left, remonstrates with referee Michael Oliver after being sent off during the English FA Cup quarter-final soccer match between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park Stadium, Liverpool, England, Saturday March 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The Associated Press
PSG's Thiago Silva jumps to avoid a collision with Chelsea's Diego Costa during the round of sixteen second leg Champions League soccer match between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Wednesday, March 9, 2016. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The Associated Press
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