FA charges Chelsea striker Diego Costa for ‘biting’ Everton’s Barry

The English Football Association has charged Chelsea striker Diego Costa with improper conduct after being sent off in Saturday’s FA Cup loss against Everton.

The English Football Association has charged Chelsea striker Diego Costa with improper conduct after being sent off in Saturday’s FA Cup loss at Everton.

Chelsea's Diego Costa clashes with Everton's Gareth Barry before being sent off. (Reuters Photo)

Costa earned a second yellow card after thrusting his head at Gareth Barry before making a biting motion toward the midfielder’s neck. Both players said there was no bite.

Costa also confronted the referee and the FA has given him until Thursday to respond to the charge that his behaviour after the sending off “amounted to improper conduct”.

Chelsea's Diego Costa (centre right) is shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver as he is sent off during the English FA Cup quarter-final. (AP Photo)

The FA has also given Costa until Wednesday to provide his observations about “an alleged gesture he made towards Everton supporters while leaving the pitch at half time”.

Costa is facing having his automatic one-match ban increased.