TOTTENHAM MIDFIELDER MOUSA Dembele has been hit with a six-match suspension after being found guilty of violent conduct following his eye-gouge on Chelsea’s Diego Costa.
Dembele appeared to claw his fingers into Costa’s eye and down his cheek during Tottenham’s ill-tempered 2-2 draw at London rivals Chelsea on Monday.
The Belgium international wasn’t punished for the offence by referee Mark Clattenburg, but the incident was caught by television cameras and he accepted the Football Association’s charge.
“Mousa Dembele will serve a six-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,” an FA statement read on Friday.
“The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder accepted the charge but denied The FA’s claim that the standard punishment of three matches which would otherwise apply to this offence was clearly insufficient.
“An Independent Regulatory Commission upheld The FA’s claim at a hearing today and ordered that an additional three match suspension was appropriate.
“The player was involved in an incident with Chelsea’s Diego Costa in or around the 45th minute of the fixture at Stamford Bridge on Monday.”
It has been reported that Tottenham may contest the length of the ban, but at present Dembele, who played 36 times in all competitions this season, will now miss the last two matches of the current campaign against Southampton and Newcastle and the first four next term.
The 28-year-old’s clash with Costa was one of several ugly exchanges during the game at Stamford Bridge and both clubs have been charged by the FA for failing to control their players.
The game spiralled out of control as Tottenham blew a two-goal lead and conceded a late equaliser to end their hopes of catching Leicester, who were crowned champions as a result.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino conceded his team “crossed the line” but said he could understand their behaviour given the pressure of the title race.
I think even if you play sometimes football with your friends, if you play for the honour, for the beers, or for the sandwiches, you want to win,” Pochettino said before the ban was announced.
“When you run and you go for the title, it is difficult sometimes to keep calm. I feel very proud of my players. I think we showed big character.
“Sometimes we crossed the line and if you cross the line you need to pay. We know the rules but I think it is a good lesson for us.”
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Munich were mugged. Shocking decision for the red card never mind the offside/offsides.
@Joe Bloggs: What about the Ramos own goal? Lewandowski clearly offside? While the other two were clear offsides that one came beforehand and brought the game to extra time. Or am I mistaken?
@Joe Bloggs: What about the Ramos own goal? Lewandowski clearly offside? In fact that goal was before either of the disputed offsides and sent the game to extra time. Or am I mistaken?
100 Champion League goals. Take a bow
@R2BApp: Amazing record. He’s one of, If not the greatest player of all time. People look back a the past and over-hype the Pele’s and Maradonna’s of this world. Put them in the modern game, Ronaldo and Messi make them look like Aidan McGeady.
@SuzukaYuiMoa: well that’s a strong statement! Holy Sh**. Maradona and Pele compared to Aidan McGeady.!? I admire your balls for saying that. Don’t agree but fair dues to ya
@Teddyzigzagbigbag: same guy who thinks Roscommon are better than Mayotte,I’d take it with a pinch of salt
What an outrageous comment to make. If you’re not a troll then you are 100% insane ffs! Pele and maradona played when players could nearly break your legs with tackles and go through you for fun without fear of being sent off! How you can even compare is just ridiculous!
@Jeremy McCarthy: if Maradona and Pele were around nowadays theyd get 50 goals a season each. Pitches like snooker tables and players can’t touch you. He should YouTube Maradona. Ball bobbling all over the place and still in control of it
@James Neill:Mayo
@SuzukaYuiMoa: you were allowed to tackle in Pele and Maradona’s time.
@Teddyzigzagbigbag:
But against defenders and teams that are physically and tactically far far more conditioned than when maradona/pele were playing. I would think the amount of money that has gone into sports science has turned the game into a far more difficult place to shine in tgat the 60/70/80′s
I dont agree with his stupid mcgeady comparison though, but just using harder challenges and bumpy pitches are a poor excuse to label one player better than another
A lot of lads on here after the Barca v psg game crying about Barca bribing refs and cheating. That was the most disgraceful referring performance I’ve seen in champions league history. A red card that wasn’t and two offside goals that were stupidly offside. You’re not allowed to beat Real Madrid.
@GOH: it was a second yellow so dry your tears mate
He won the ball! Did you even see it? Asensio rolling around like he’d been shot!
@GOH: yes and the ref deemed it a booking you can’t blame the player he was definitely caught. Alone with others screaming about offsides, that the officials fault not Madrids. But they weren’t diving around looking for pens so that’s something
@GOH: defo a sending off and 2 offsides 1 barely Offside buy Neyer was brutal. Should’ve saved it. And the defence made Marcelo look like Ronaldinho.
@Teddyzigzagbigbag: how he I’d supposed to be the best keeper in the world is beyond me , very poor for 4 if not 5 of the goals over the two legs
Asensio wasn’t touched! It was the best tackle Vidal the madman ever made. Asensio rolled around the ground like he was shot. Casemiro could literally shoot someone in the face and not get sent off.
You’re saying vidals second yellow was a booking? Have another Look at that tackle. He clearly and cleanly got the ball.
@GOH: in saying that cassamero should defo have gone. And if I was a Munich supporter I’d be disgusted
@GOH: Barca v Chelsea
@Euphegenia: he’s good but he’s inflated because he’s brash and a ‘sweeper keeper’. Not in degea’s league for shot stopping.
@Teddyzigzagbigbag: stay off the drugs.
Is Ronaldo the best player ever?
Definitely in the conversation.
Vidal has had a nightmare two games. Ronaldo back to his best and gets his 100 UCL goal incredible achievement.
Two offside goals a sending off that shouldn’t, an cassamaro somehow staying on the pitch. Munich`s only mistake, not paying more Money than floretino Perez to the ref,
Real Madrid had something like 19 shots on target , Bayern had 3 , their goals came from a clumsy own goal and a penalty . Real won away last week and again this week , scored 6 goals against Bayern Munich and yet somehow you ‘football experts ‘ think Bayern were robbed . Ye’re nothing but a pack of Dunphys!
Bayern were absolutely shafted! Much the better team until Vidal got wrongly sent off.
Ronaldo. True for what some say. What’s he all about? He’s a cod…
How is he a cod?
Woosh! That went way over your head pal.
@GOH: totally missed it…hehe
Ronaldo making 100 goals will steal all the attention away from the abundance of evidence provided that video refs are needed. Standard of officiating is getting worse and worse. Premier League officiating has already gone to sh*t and it’s leaking into Europe too.
@Leon: mainland European refereeing has always been brutal. They get away with it on the continent because they just blow for everything.
I was hoping that both sides might lose!
Bad officiating cost bayern there.shockin sending vidal off for that tackle and Ronnie clearly offside for the goal.fair play Madrid all the same.juve only team that could stop them now.would be a good final