Diego Costa — a player that divides opinion on just how far you can go to win a football match — is back in trouble after being charged with an “alleged act of violent conduct.”
The announcement was made Monday by the English Football Association after it reviewed footage of Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday.
Chelsea star Costa, who was involved in a number of altercations with Arsenal players during the game, served a three-match ban for violent conduct last season and the Brazilian-born Spain international could now face another lengthy punishment if found guilty.
In a statement issued by the FA, Costa was charged for “an alleged act of violent conduct which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.”
Costa has until 6pm local time Tuesday to reply to the charges.
The FA has also charged Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista with improper conduct for his behavior after his sending off at Stamford Bridge, while teammate Santi Cazorla, who was also red carded, has been warned about his behavior.
Both clubs have been charged for failing to control their players and are expected to reply to the charge by Thursday.
In a statement on its website, Arsenal confirmed it is appealing the dismissal of Gabriel and the subsequent three-match ban.
In the first-half, Costa appeared to hit out at Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny, while the 26-year-old Chelsea forward was also involved in a coming together with Paulista, who was sent off by referee Mike Dean.
Arsene Wenger had called it “unacceptable behavior” — but Chelsea counterpart Jose Mourinho made a novel defense for his agent provocateur Costa, likening the soccer star to a rugby player after yet another victory over Arsenal.
“He can do what he wants, he stays on and everybody else who responds to him has to be sent off. I think it is unacceptable his behavior,” Wenger said of Costa, who was booked for his initial tussle with Paulista.
“If you look well at the pictures what he does to Koscielny before he pushes him down, he hits him in the face and the throat, he always gets away with it.
“It is surprising and I don’t understand (referee) Mike Dean’s decision at all, not on the sending-off — why does Diego Costa stay on the pitch and Gabriel sent off?
“Okay I accept he has not to react at all. Gabriel is guilty for getting involved, of course he should not have responded at all, but Koscielny had no choice.”
Wenger had been hoping for Arsenal’s first Premier League win against Chelsea since 2011, having triumphed in the preseason Community Shield clash in August.
But instead the spoils belonged to Mourinho, who forced a handshake with his bitter rival before the match kicked off.
The Portuguese manager refused to criticize the behavior of Costa, his top scorer last season as Chelsea won the English title.
“He played like he has to play. And that’s why you have full stadiums, you sell to televisions around the world for millions and millions, because the game has to be played like that,” Mourinho told reporters.
When a reporter claimed Costa should have had three or four bookings, Mourinho suggested that the journalist did not understand physical sport.
“You didn’t play rugby. Trust me. You played badminton. It’s a great sport. Badminton is a great sport,” he said.
Mourinho also used an oval-ball analogy to claim that Chelsea should have had two penalties.
“What Gabriel Paulista did to Eden Hazard is something that is allowed in rugby and not in football. And in the box it’s a penalty. And in the second half (Hector Bellerin) did the same on Diego Costa. In rugby it’s fantastic; in football it’s a penalty.”
Mourinho was clearly enjoying himself, and concluded by saying Wenger “has to cope with his defeat” — a reference to the Frenchman’s prematch taunt that the former Real Madrid coach would have to get used to losing after Chelsea’s poor start to the new season.
Last season Costa was banned for three matches after the Chelsea striker was found guilty of violent conduct when the FA ruled he had deliberately stamped on the ankle of Liverpool’s Emre Can in a League Cup match.
