Season over for Alli after FA imposes three-game ban for punch the ref missed
LONDON: England midfielder Dele Alli will not play for Tottenham again this season after the Football Association handed him a three-match ban for violent conduct.
The 20-year-old was suspended after appearing to punch West Brom’s Claudio Yacob in Monday night’s 1-1 draw between the two sides at White Hart Lane.
Alli accepted the FA charge and failed in a claim that the accompanying three-match ban would be an excessive punishment.
Named PFA Young Player of the Year last week, Alli had been fouled twice in the early stages by the Argentinian and looked to react when the two came together in the penalty area.
The incident was missed by referee Mike Jones but the FA acted quickly in charging Alli and announced on Thursday evening that a three-match ban was his punishment.
The player tweeted: “Gutted that my season is over. Shouldn’t have reacted like I did. Will learn from this and come back stronger.”
An FA statement said: “Dele Alli will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after he committed an act of violent conduct which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.
“The player accepted The FA’s charge but contested that the automatic penalty of a three-match suspension would be ‘clearly excessive’.
“This claim, however, was rejected following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today [Thursday 28 April 2016].
“The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was involved in a 26th minute incident with West Bromwich Albion’s Claudio Yacob during their game on Monday [25 April 2016].”
The news will come as a blow to Spurs and their head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who remain just in the hunt for the Barclays Premier League title.
The draw against the Baggies, which saw Craig Dawson equalise his first-half own goal, means Leicester need just three points from their last three games and could seal the title with victory at Manchester United on Sunday.
Spurs do not play until Monday night, for the third time in succession, and could kick-off at Chelsea out of the running or with the chance to increase the pressure on the Foxes.
#############
