Chelsea star Diego Costa to contest FA charge for 'stamping' with full backing from club

Chelsea striker Diego Costa will contest a charge of violent conduct over his alleged stamp on Liverpool's Emre Can on Tuesday 27 January.

The Football Association confirmed the charge on 28 January, which could see Costa hit with an immediate three-match ban, ruling him out of the Premier League clash with Manchester City on 31 January

But, in a decision fully backed by Chelsea, the Spain international is contesting the charge, Press Association report.

Costa, 26, was involved in a series of incidents in his side's 1-0 win over Liverpool in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final clash.

Following the first-half clash with Can, the former Atletico Madrid star was involved in an identical incident later in the contest where he appeared to stand on Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel.

In his post-match press conference, manager Jose Mourinho defended his player and insisted a "certain television pundit" was leading a new campaign against his side.

The following day, on 28 January, the Chelsea boss was handed a £25,000 fine for earlier comments he made after his side's 1-1 draw with Southampton on 22 December, where he complained of a campaign by "people, pundits, commentators and coaches from other teams" against his side.

Chelsea announced they have cancelled their pre-match press conference at Cobham on Friday 30 January.