Diego Costa has been banned for three matches after the Chelsea striker was found guilty of violent conduct.

The English FA yesterday announced that an independent regulatory commission ruled that Costa deliberately stamped on the ankle of Liverpool’s Emre Can in Tuesday night’s League Cup semi-final second leg.

Costa and Chelsea have no right to appeal, with Costa ruled out of today’s Premier League showdown with Man. City, as well as matches with Aston Villa and Everton.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho claimed the incident, which occurred in front of the dugouts but was missed by the match officials, was “absolutely accidental”.

It was subsequently reviewed on video by referee Michael Oliver, with the charge following on Wednesday.

Costa contested the charge on Thursday, but yesterday he was found guilty and banned.

Mourinho cancelled his usual Friday pre-match media conference after Costa’s charge and his own £25,000 fine for stating last month that there was a “clear campaign” against Chelsea.

The ban for Costa is only likely to strengthen the Blues boss’s view. The absence of Costa, who has scored 17 times in 19 league appearances, is a blow for Chelsea.

The City clash completes a tumultuous week at Stamford Bridge, which saw Chelsea dum-ped out of the FA Cup by Bradford, who inflicted the Blues’ first home loss of the season, before advancing to Wembley in the League Cup at Liverpool’s expense.