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Chelsea's Diego Costa banned three games for stamping opponent's leg

The Football Association banned Chelsea striker Diego Costa for three games after his appeal for stamping an opponent's leg was denied.
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The Football Association has banned Chelsea striker Diego Costa for three games after his appeal for stamping an opponent's leg was denied.

Costa denied any wrongdoing following Tuesday’s incident involving Liverpool midfielder Emre Can during the second leg of the League Cup semifinal. The incident was caught on video, but officials did not see what happened.

The FA's Independent Regulatory Commission reviewed video footage of Costa and charged him with “violent conduct.”

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said Costa's contact with Can was "absolutely accidental," and that Costa “puts his foot there when he's looking to the ball."

Costa will miss Chelsea's crucial Premier League match Manchester City on Saturday, a match against Aston Villa on Feb. 7 and a Feb. 11 contest against Everton. Costa’s next match is likely to be a Champions League fixture against Paris Saint-Germain on Feb. 17.

Costa leads the Premier League with 17 goals and two assists in 19 games for Chelsea, who hold top spot in the league by five points over Manchester City.

- Scooby Axson