Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli will miss the rest of the season after he was give a three-match ban for violent conduct by the Football Association yesterday.
The 20-year-old, voted the PFA Young Player of the Year last weekend after a sensational first season in the top flight, was caught on video deliberately swinging his arm into the stomach of West Bromwich Albion’s Claudio Yacob during Monday’s 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane.
Because the incident was not seen by the match referee it was referred to the FA’s Independent Regulatory Commission who yesterday retrospectively found him guilty of the charge.
Alli had not disputed the charge but contested that the automatic three-match ban for such incidents would be ‘clearly excessive’ the FA said.