Diego Costa faces no FA charge as Gareth Barry denies bite, but Chelsea striker must wait over incidents with referee and Everton fans

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Tom Doyle13 March 2016

Chelsea striker Diego Costa will not face disciplinary action from the Football Association after Gareth Barry confirmed the Spanish striker did not bite him during Saturday's FA Cup match.

Chelsea striker Costa was sent off for the first time in his time in England in the final minutes of the 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final loss to Everton at Goodison Park after coming together with Barry.

Television footage showed Costa pressing his mouth against Barry’s neck and appeared ready to bite before calming down and embracing him.

Standard Sport has been told that the FA contacted Everton on Saturday evening and made enquiries over the incident, but that the Merseyside club - on behalf of Barry - told the FA that no bite had occurred.

Consequently, the FA will take no further action over the incident.

Barry had seemingly cleared Costa of biting him with a post on Fanzai - a social media app for fans - on Saturday morning before the statement was then deleted.

While Costa will escape any potential ban for the altercation with Barry, Standard Sport has been told that the Chelsea striker could still face sanctions regarding two separate incidents during the match.

The FA may look into Costa's reaction to referee Michael Oliver after being sent off if the official decides that the striker adopted an aggressive attitude, and consequently reports the incident to the FA.

Should that happen, the FA may look into the matter in terms of a possible misconduct charge.

A further allegation has been made that Costa made an offensive gesture towards Everton fans at half-time near the tunnel, though the FA will have to rely on broadcast footage.

If there are grounds for Costa to be charged, the FA would refer any such incidents to the Independent Regulatory Commission in order to hear the matter.

There is precedent for the FA referring matters of improper conduct to the independent commission, with Arsenal defender Gabriel handed a one-match ban after admitting a charge of that nature following his dismissal against Chelsea in September 2015.

Former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was handed a one-match ban in December 2011 after admitting to an FA charge of improper conduct for an offensive gesture made towards Fulham supporters.

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