Tottenham Hotspur youngster Dele Alli has been handed a three-match ban for violent conduct.
The PFA Young Player of the Year is now set to miss the rest of the Premier League season following his on-pitch punch on West Brom midfielder Claudio Yacob on Monday. With frustration kicking in, the 19-year-old was seen punching his Baggies counterpart in the lower abdomen during the 1-1 draw at the White Hart Lane. The draw kicked Spurs out of the title race, considering the fact that high flying Foxes now need only one more win out of their next three fixtures to be crowned champions of England.
Watch Alli's punch on Yacob below:
Dele Alli with a punch on Claudio Yacob? Needs more than this ropey Twitter clip, I think pic.twitter.com/h8qoUltPwd
— Oliver Todd (@oliver_todd) April 25, 2016
Part of the statement released by the FA read:
"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]."
Following the ruling, the youngster took to Twitter to express his regrets. He Tweeted:
Gutted that my season is over. Shouldn’t have reacted like I did. Will learn from this and come back stronger.
— Dele Alli (@Dele_Alli) April 28, 2016
Alli has scored 10 goals for the Lillywhites and provided nine assists on his debut season. His control of the game and rise to fame has also earned him a place in this year's Euro 2016 Championship in the England national team.
The North Londoners now sit at the second point on the league table with 69 points, seven behind Claudio Ranieri’s side. As Ranieri and Co. head to Old Trafford to face Manchester United in a match that could wrap up the title chase if they secure a win, Pochettino’s men will be heading west to face rivals Chelsea.
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