(AFP) - Chelsea's controversial striker Diego Costa was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association (FA) on Monday for the angry reaction to his red card in Saturday's FA Cup loss to Everton.
Costa was sent off by referee Michael Oliver in Chelsea's 2-0 quarter-final defeat at Goodison Park.
Television replays showed Costa nuzzling his mouth into Gareth Barry's neck in what initially looked like an attempted bite by the temperamental Spain forward.
Everton midfielder Barry insisted Costa had not bitten him and the FA charge does not mention the incident, but the Chelsea star is still in trouble for his aggressive protest to Oliver about his dismissal.
Costa was also accused of making an obscene gesture towards Everton supporters at half-time.
A statement from the FA read: "Diego Costa has been charged in relation to Chelsea's FA Cup sixth-round fixture against Everton on Saturday, March 12, 2016.
"It is alleged his behaviour, after being shown a second yellow card in the game, amounted to improper conduct.
"He has until 6pm on March 17, 2016 to respond to the charge.
"Meanwhile, the Chelsea striker has until Wednesday (March 16, 2016) to provide his observations to the FA in relation to an alleged gesture he made towards Everton supporters while leaving the pitch at half-time."
Costa faced a one-match ban following the first red card of his career in England, but the FA charge is likely to lead to a further one-game suspension, with the possibility of another ban for the crowd gesture.
It is not the first time Costa has found himself in hot water for his fiery antics since joining Chelsea from Atletico Madrid in 2014.
He was given a three-match ban after being found guilty of violent conduct for stamping on Emre Can during a League Cup tie with Liverpool.
Costa got away with lashing out at Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny earlier this season, with Koscielny's team-mate Gabriel Paulista then sent off for taking revenge of his own.
But the FA then overturned Gabriel's ban and gave Costa a three-match suspension instead.
The Brazil-born star was also involved in an ugly training ground clash with Chelsea team-mate Oscar following an aggressive tackle from the midfielder, which led to the pair being pulled apart by other members of the squad before they could come to blows.
