Soccer

Diego Costa to contest violent conduct charge

José Mourinho cancels press conference in protest

Chelsea’s Diego Costa has been charged with violent conduct following an alleged stamping incident during the League Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge Photograph: PA.
Chelsea’s Diego Costa has been charged with violent conduct following an alleged stamping incident during the League Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge Photograph: PA.
Fri Jan 30 2015 - 23:05

DOMINIC FIFIELD

Diego Costa will contest the violent conduct charge brought against him by the English Football Association and will do so with the full support of José Mourinho and Chelsea, whose sense that there is a campaign against them has pushed them into lockdown mode.

Mourinho has cancelled the media conference he was due to hold on Friday to preview the title showdown against Manchester City on Stamford Bridge on Saturday, a move that will lead to another exchange with the Premier League.

It was difficult to see it as anything other than a protest against the Costa charge, which has upset Mourinho and everyone at the club. When the manager was charged by the FA over comments he made last month about there being a media-driven “campaign” against Chelsea, he responded by withdrawing from his conference before the home ame against Newcastle United.

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Steve Holland, the assistant manager, stepped in but the league’s regulations, which are agreed with all the clubs, state that it must be the manager who holds the pre-match conference with rights holders, who are almost all broadcasters.

Obligations

The league wrote to Chelsea to ask why Mourinho had failed to fulfil his pre-Newcastle obligations – the matter has yet to be resolved – and is set to contact them again. If it is not satisfied with the reasons for Mourinho’s no-shows, it has the authority to issue a fine.

Mourinho was fined €33,000 on Wednesday morning after the FA ruled he had overstepped the line with his remarks about the “campaign” against Chelsea and, later in the day, the governing body brought the charge against Costa, following Tuesday night’s stormy League Cup semi-final against Liverpool, which Chelsea won.

Costa has been accused of deliberately stamping on Emre Can – the striker was spared an additional charge after the FA ruled that a second, alleged stamp on Martin Skrtel was accidental. But Costa wants his insistence that he did not set out to stamp on an opponent placed on record. Mourinho argued after the game that the flashpoints had been “absolutely accidental”.

Three-match ban

Costa faces a three-match ban because the referee, Michael Oliver, who did not see the incident with Can, has admitted that he would have shown a red card if he had.

The FA is dealing with the case under its fast-track system and an independent panel will pass judgment on Friday, with the expectation being that the suspension will be upheld. The FA has a 99 per cent success rate in such matters. Costa would miss the matches against City, Aston Villa and Everton. Chelsea will submit evidence on Costa’s behalf to the commission.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are close to agreeing a deal with Fiorentina for Juan Cuadrado worth an initial €31 million with add-ons which would potentially satisfy the €36 million release clause in the Colombian’s contract, with Mohamed Salah likely to move to the Viola on loan as part of the deal.

Talks have progressed well between Chelsea and the Italian club as the Premier League leaders move efficiently towards securing a direct replacement for André Schürrle, who will be sold before Monday’s transfer deadline.

The Germany international is the subject of interest from Wolfsburg, who are close to securing the World Cup winner for around €30 million.

Personal terms are understood to have been agreed with Caudrado, who impressed at last year’s World Cup and has enjoyed spells in Italy with Udinese, Lecce and Fiorentina.

Guardian Service