• Chelsea defender denies contact with Wigan player was violent
• Chelsea will submit video and written evidence
Branislav Ivanovic has risked the Football Association extending a potential three-match ban to four games by appealing against a violent conduct charge following an apparent clash with Wigan Athletic's Shaun Maloney at Stamford Bridge last Saturday.
Television footage from stoppage time in the hosts' 2-1 victory shows the pair coming together as they run towards the Chelsea penalty area as the visitors mount a late attack. Ivanovic then appears to strike the Scotland midfielder in the midriff, with Maloney left bent double on the turf. Chelsea subsequently broke down-field for Juan Mata to register a controversial winner, with the FA confirming on Tuesday that the Serbian would face charges.
It is understood Ivanovic, who had earlier opened the scoring in Saturday's game, accepts there was clumsy contact between the players but vehemently denies it was violent. He will not be attendance when the FA's regulatory commission scrutinises the case on Thursday – Chelsea will submit video and written evidence to back up their appeal – but a verdict is anticipated before the end of the day.
A violent conduct charge would normally carry a three-match suspension, ruling the defender out of Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur and the London derbies against Arsenal and Queen's Park Rangers in the Premier League, yet there remains the potential for the FA to deem the appeal "frivolous" and extend the ban. If that were to be the case, Ivanovic would risk missing the subsequent league game against Newcastle United – currently two points and one place above Chelsea in the table – at Stamford Bridge on 2 May.
The decision to appeal reflects Ivanovic's importance to Roberto di Matteo's team at present. The 28-year-old has been one of the side's most consistent performers in a difficult campaign, and has excelled at right-back and, when required, centre-half. Chelsea's resources are being stretched across their back-line, with John Terry currently playing in pain after fracturing two ribs in the first leg of the Champions League knock-out tie with Benfica. They do, however, hope to have Ashley Cole fit to face both Spurs at Wembley and Barcelona next week despite the England full-back having experienced discomfort from a long-standing ankle problem that has hampered his ability to train and ruled him out of the games against Wigan and Fulham.