Dele Alli has kicked his last ball in his debut Premier League season.
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Alli, 20, has been handed a three-game ban by the English Football Association after he was charged with violent conduct following a punch on West Bromwich Albion’s Claudio Yacob (watch the video, above) during Spurs’ 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane on Monday.
Due to the incident in question not being spotted by referee Mike Jones or the rest of his officiating crew at the time, plus Jones didn’t include any mention of it in his match report, the FA have used video footage to retrospectively charge and ban Alli.
In a statement released by the FA on Thursday, they revealed that Alli contested the penalty of a three-game ban but that was rejected and he will not play again this season in the PL.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 mercurial talent has scored 10 goals in his debut PL season and has risen to prominence with Spurs second in the table and seven points behind leaders Leicester City heading into the final three games of the season.
It is a big blow for Mauricio Pochettino’s team that Alli will be missing for their final games as they look to keep their faint title hopes alive by winning all of their games and hoping Leicester slip up. His link up with Harry Kane this season has been telepathic and the duo have gone on to star for England together and Alli is almost certain of a starting spot at the 2016 European Championships in France this summer.
That said, it is hoped the former MK Dons star learns from this latest act of indiscretion. In the past he has been scolded by Pochettino about his behavior during a Europa League tie against Fiorentina earlier this season. He seems to play on the edge and with his rise to dominance this season, opposition midfielders such as Yacob have targeted him. On various occasions Alli has nearly seen the red midst descend.
It is good for Alli to have that feisty streak in him but it must be controlled. He is only young and, hopefully, he will learn from this ban.