Costa To Fight FA Charge  (Sky Sports)

Diego Costa will contest his FA violent conduct charge with the full support of Chelsea.

The Spain striker is to deny an accusation of stamping on Liverpool's Emre Can during Tuesday night's Capital One Cup semi-final.

Costa will be banned for three matches with immediate effect if the charge is proven, and his hearing will be fast-tracked for Friday to ensure an outcome is reached before the huge Saturday Night Football game against Manchester City.

In the meantime Chelsea have cancelled their weekly press briefing ahead of the City game - a decision that follows the Costa charge and a fine of £25,000 imposed on Jose Mourinho over comments he made last month.

Mourinho denied breaching FA rules when he alleged after a game against Southampton there was a "clear campaign" from "people, pundits, commentators, coaches from other teams" to influence referees against his side.

But he was this week found guilty of bringing football into disrepute and warned over his future behaviour.

Mourinho was treading on eggshells in his post-match interview with Sky Sports after the Liverpool game, refusing to answer questions about two alleged Costa stamps.

He also refused to pass judgement on referee Michael Oliver, who did not award a penalty for what Mourinho saw as a "clear" Martin Skrtel foul on Costa.

“If I speak, the FA will punish me as they always do so I think it's better for you to do it,” he said.

Premier League rules say managers are required to attend pre-match press conferences with broadcasters "save for exceptional circumstances".