Chelsea Striker Diego Costa Could Face Potential Four Match Ban For Stamp On Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel

Chelsea striker Diego Costa is facing a potential 4-match ban for his alleged kick out at Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel during Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to the Reds at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

During an ill-tempered match between two bitter rivals, Costa appeared to have kicked familiar foe Martin Skrtel in the stomach midway through the second half. Referee Mark Clattenburg took no action against Costa at the time of the incident.

However, if Clattenburg claims to have not seen the kick, Costa may face retrospective action and may potentially be banned for 4 matches.

Costa was handed a retrospective 3-match ban by the FA earlier this season for his altercation with Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny during Chelsea’s controversial 2-0 win over the Gunners in September. A second disciplinary offence during the course of the season makes Costa eligible for a four-match ban.

No stranger to controversy, Diego Costa was given a 3-match retrospective ban for stamping Martin Skrtel during Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Liverpool in the 2nd leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final in January this year.

A potential 4-match ban for Costa will inflict further misery on under-fire Jose Mourinho, who is currently enduring the worst start to a league season in his entire career.

If charged, Costa will miss Chelsea’s upcoming league fixtures against Stoke City, Norwich, Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth.

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