Dele Alli gets three-match ban for punch during Tottenham v West Brom

Posted Friday, April 29, 2016 by skysports.com

Dele Alli's season is over after he was hit with a three-match ban for punching West Brom's Claudio Yacob in the stomach.

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was involved in the 26th-minute incident with Yacob during the Monday Night Football clash at White Hart Lane, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

The player accepted the FA charge of violent misconduct but contested that the standard penalty of a three-match suspension would be 'clearly excessive'.

This claim, however, was rejected following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Thursday.

The rising England star will now miss the rest of Tottenham's season as they hope to overhaul leaders Leicester - if the Foxes falter in their final three games.

Alli reacted on Twitter by writing: "Gutted that my season is over. Shouldn't have reacted like I did. Will learn from this and come back stronger."

Leicester travel to Old Trafford on Sunday knowing victory over Manchester United will give them the Premier League title.

They are seven points ahead of Mauricio Pochettino's side with three games left but if they draw or lose in Manchester, that will open the door to Tottenham to close the gap when they play at Chelsea on Monday.

Alli's absence will be a big blow for second-placed Spurs, whose final two games are at home against Southampton and away at relegation-threatened Newcastle.

The 20-year-old midfielder, recently voted PFA Young Player of the Year, may now not have another competitive game until England embark on a series of friendlies building up to the Euro 2016 tournament in France.