FA Cup semi-final draw made and Chelsea’s Diego Costa charged after Everton red card

Crystal Palace will play Watford in the semi-finals in a repeat of the Championship play-off final of 2013 while Everton await the winner of West Ham-Manchester United replay.

LONDON // Crystal Palace will play Watford in the semi-finals of the FA Cup in a repeat of the Championship play-off final of 2013, which Palace won with a Kevin Phillips penalty.

Watford were last in the final in 1984, where they were beaten by Everton, while Palace lost the 1990 final to Manchester United after a replay.

Everton will face the winners of the replay between Manchester United and West Ham in the second semi-final.

West Ham, cup winners in 1980, drew 1-1 at Old Trafford on Sunday and the replay date is yet to be announced. The ties will be played at Wembley over the weekend of April 23 and 24.

COSTA FACES THREE-MATCH BAN

Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been charged with improper conduct by the English Football Association following his red card in Saturday’s FA Cup loss at Everton.

Television replays showed Costa nuzzling his mouth into Gareth Barry’s neck, but the Everton midfielder insisted the Spain international had not bitten him.

Costa was sent off by referee Michael Oliver for two yellow cards in the FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Goodison Park.

“Diego Costa has been charged in relation to Chelsea’s FA Cup sixth-round fixture against Everton on Saturday, March 12, 2016,” a statement from the English FA read. “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 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.”

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport