London: Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been banned for three matches with immediate effect after being found guilty of a violent conduct charge, the Football Association announced on Friday.

The Spain international was suspended after a regulatory commission ruled he had stamped on the ankle of Liverpool’s Emre Can in the 12th minute of Tuesday’s League Cup semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge, which Chelsea won 1-0 to complete a 2-1 aggregate victory.

There is no right of appeal and Costa will now miss Premier League leaders Chelsea’s match at home to title rivals Manchester City on Saturday and subsequent games against Aston Villa and Everton.

The incident was reviewed on video by referee Michael Oliver after the match official did not see it in real time.

Costa denied the charge of violent conduct levelled against him on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s 6pm GMT (10pm UAE) deadline.

However, the charge was upheld on Friday and Costa banned immediately.

“Diego Costa will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after a charge of violent conduct against him was found proven by an independent regulatory commission today [Friday],” said a statement issued by the Football Association, the English game’s governing body.

“The Chelsea forward had denied the charge.

“The incident was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.”

Reaction to the incidents involving Costa and Can and Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel, over which the FA took no action, dominated the aftermath of a game where Branislav Ivanovic scored an extra-time winner.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said the Brazil-born Costa’s challenge on Can was “poor” and could have caused a “nasty” injury.

But Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho said the two incidents had been “absolutely accidental” and blamed television pundits for whipping up controversy over what had happened.

Chelsea, seemingly unwilling to make any further comment about the issue before a decision was reached, cancelled Friday’s pre-match news conference — even though they are obliged to hold one under Premier League rules.