Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli has been suspended for three European games after picking up a straight red card in Tottenham’s 2-2 Europa League draw against Gent in February.
Alli was dismissed for a wild challenge on Gent’s Brecht Dejaegere in the first half of the match at Wembley Stadium.
Gent progressed to the last-16 stage after beating Spurs 3-2 on aggregate over two legs.
Alli, 20, will serve the suspension next season if Tottenham qualify for either the Champions League or Europa League.
AFC quartet cleared for FIFA elections
Candidates vying for the four available Asian Football Confederation (AFC) seats on the FIFA council have been cleared to stand for election by the world governing body.
The four successful candidates at May’s AFC congress in Bahrain will represent Asia on the body along with Bahraini vice president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, also the head of the AFC, and members from Japan and Malaysia.
The four spots include one reserved for women.
Australian Moya Dodd, formerly a co-opted member of the old FIFA Executive Committee, will take on Mahfuza Ahkter of Bangladesh, Han Un-gyong of North Korea and Susan R.A. Shalabi of Palestine.
Hernandez eyes goals to save Hull
Hull City striker Abel Hernandez is keen to rediscover his scoring touch to help steer Marco Silva’s side away from the relegation zone.
Hernandez, who suffered a groin injury in November, has scored three league goals this season and will need to find the net more often if the Tigers are to avoid the drop.
“It hasn’t been the season I had wanted and injuries have had a big part to play in that,” Hernandez said.
“I was here when we were relegated two years ago and it was a horrible feeling. I would say it was the worst time in my career.”
Spurs get green light to fill Wembley
Tottenham Hotspur have been given approval to play the majority of their home matches next season in front of a capacity crowd at Wembley if they take up an option to play at the stadium, British media reported yesterday.
Brent Council’s planning committee passed the Premier League club’s application to use the full capacity at Wembley by a majority of 5-1, meaning Spurs can fill up to 90,000 seats for at least 27 matches next season.
Tottenham have until March 31 to decide whether to play at the national stadium or stay at White Hart Lane for next season.
The FA had already approved the club’s use of the stadium.
Benzema wants Deschamps talks
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has asked France coach Didier Deschamps for an explanation on why he was not selected for today’s World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg.
Benzema had been indefinitely banned from the France team after being charged with conspiracy to blackmail in a sextape scandal involving team-mate Mathieu Valbuena, but the ban was lifted last September.
“I find it unfair because I did not have any explanation. I am a man and I’d like an explanation on why I haven’t been called up,” Benzema said.
“What I would like is to have a conversation with the coach.”
Claudio Ranieri to be honoured in Italy
Claudio Ranieri will be acclaimed by leading coaches from his home country on Monday as awards keep coming for the former Leicester City manager.
The Italian football federation (FIGC) said Ranieri’s feat of guiding the Foxes to last season’s Premier League title will see him receive a special ‘Golden Bench’ honour at a coaching summit.
The FIGC said: “During the ceremony a special Golden Bench will be given to Claudio Ranieri, the protagonist of the extraordinary journey by Leicester, with whom he won the Premier League.”
Ranieri will also give a keynote speech on the same day for the gathering of coaches from the country’s professional clubs.
Arsenal and Bayern fined by UEFA
Arsenal and Bayern Munich have both been hit with UEFA fines after their Champions League last 16 tie at the Emirates Stadium on March 7.
The Gunners were thrashed 5-1 by the Bundesliga champions in the second-leg meeting, with the game interrupted by a pitch invader.
The result meant Arsene Wenger’s side were eliminated 10-2 on aggregate.
During the defeat, a supporter made his way on to the pitch before being apprehended by stewards, with UEFA confirming Arsenal were charged – and now fined €5,000 – for the infringement.
Bayern were also fined €3,000 after their fans threw till rolls on to the pitch in the opening minutes of the game in protest to the high ticket prices at Arsenal, again causing a delay to proceedings.