Trial by TV: Jose Mourinho believes there is a campaign to get Costa suspended

Chelsea are fuming at what they regard as ‘trial by TV’ over Diego Costa.

Jose Mourinho is understood to be angry at what he believes to be a campaign to get his star striker suspended.

Costa was charged with violent conduct by the FA yesterday after his altercation with Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny during Saturday’s Premier League win for the Blues at Stamford Bridge.

The FA hit Costa with his sanction after referee Mike Dean failed to see him grabbing Koscielny by the face as they competed for a cross.

Chelsea have until 6pm tonight to respond to the charge. But the Champions are annoyed at what they describe as “12 hour TV coverage on a loop telling everyone that Diego Costa is the dirtiest player in the country.’

They also believe the independent three-man panel which will convene to sit in judgment on the controversial striker will be put in an impossible position given the welter of negative coverage surrounding him.

Chelsea are also stunned that Arsenal are using the precedent set by the Blues last season to try and get a three-match ban for Gabriel cut to two games.

Gabriel was shown a straight red card for kicking Costa but Arsenal intend to point to the fact that Matic had his suspension reduced after being sent off for lashing out at Ashley Barnes.

Chelsea feel there is no comparison between the two incidents as Matic had responded to a potential leg-breaking challenge from Barnes while Gabriel had unnecessarily put himself into the confrontation between Costa and Koscielny.

The Blues also insist TV footage proves it was Gabriel who raised his hands first to Costa as the incident spiralled out of control.

Gabriel has been charged by the FA with improper conduct for his behaviour after he was sent off by Dean for kicking Costa.