Three-match ban for violent Costa Fast facts

LONDON — Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been banned for three matches after a charge of violent conduct during his team’s 2-0 win over Arsenal at Stamford Bridge was upheld by a disciplinary panel.

Costa had denied an English Football Association (FA) charge over Saturday’s incident, not seen by referee Mike Dean, in which he appeared to raise his hands to Gunners defender Laurent Koscielny.

But the FA issued a statement on Tuesday, saying its “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. The Chelsea forward will, therefore, serve the standard penalty of a three-match suspension with immediate effect.”

The ban means that Costa missed Chelsea’s League Cup match with Walsall last night (early this morning, Singapore time), and will also sit out the Premier League matches with Newcastle and Southampton.

A statement from Chelsea said they were “extremely disappointed” with the decision to suspend Costa, and will wait until they receive the full written explanation before commenting further.

However, Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista won an appeal against his red card for confronting Costa after the initial incident. But he still faces a separate charge of improper conduct for his reaction after being shown the red card by Dean on the stroke of half-time.

The Brazilian failed to immediately leave the pitch and then tried to confront Costa before being restrained by his teammates.

Both clubs also face an outstanding charge of failing to control their players during the ill-tempered match, which Arsenal finished with nine men. Midfielder “Santi” Cazorla was sent off for the visitors in the second half.

Chelsea also found itself in the news on Tuesday after Eva Carneiro, the club’s first-team doctor, decided against returning to the club.

Carneiro lost her place on the bench last month after manager Jose Mourinho lashed out at her during the match against Swansea for running on to the pitch and treating Eden Hazard.

However, the referee had waved Carneiro onto the pitch and the player had clearly asked for help.

Carneiro has also not been allowed to attend training sessions or matches, or enter the team hotel.

However, physiotherapist Jon Fearn, who was also rebuked by Mourinho and demoted after running on to the pitch, is expected to return to the bench soon.

Fearn has continued to work with the first-team players and travelled to games.

FIFA and the medical community have condemned Mourinho’s behaviour, but Chelsea have not commented other than to say it is an “internal staffing matter”.

Mourinho had also claimed that both Carneiro and Fearn could eventually resume their duties.

However, club sources expected Carneiro would leave, as her position had appeared to become untenable.

Carneiro subsequently failed to comply with the club’s request to report for duty last Friday, ahead of the game against Arsenal.

The FA is currently looking into a complaint that Mourinho used abusive and sexist language towards Carneiro. AGENCIES

Diego Costa (above) has received 66 yellow cards since he started his professional career in 2006 with Portuguese second division side Penafiel. The most number of cards he received in a season was 14, when he was with Spanish second division club Albacete during the 2008-2009 season. He came close to matching that in the 2012-2013 season, when he was booked 12 times while playing for Atletico Madrid.

Last season, Costa received eight yellow cards in his debut season with Chelsea. He has received two yellow cards after six league games so far this season.