Dembele gets 6-game violent conduct ban
Mousa Dembele has been banned for six matches by the Football Association (FA) after the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder accepted charge of violent conduct after he appeared to try to scratch the eye of Chelsea’s Diego Costa.
Mauricio Pochettino confirmed at his news conference on Friday that Dembele had accepted the charge, which followed Monday’s ill-tempered 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.
The Belgium midfielder disputed the FA’s claim that the usual three-match ban for violent conduct is “clearly insufficient.”
However, the FA confirmed in a statement that an independent disciplinary panel agreed with that assertion and doubled the length of the suspension.
Dembele will now banned for Spurs’ final two Premier League games of the season, against Southampton and Newcastle United, as well the first four games of next season.
Pochettino explained he had spoken to the 28-year-old about the incident, saying in Friday’s prematch news conference: “It’s impossible to not speak about it [with Dembele].
“Mousa knows like Dele Alli that when you cross the line you need to pay. We cannot justify but we understand. If we punish him [internally] it’s private. I never give public information if we do something.”
Pochettino also said Spurs “crossed the line” in Monday’s draw at Chelsea but said he is “proud” of his players for shedding the club’s “soft” image.
Dembele’s absence will be a blow to Spurs, who are already without the suspended Dele Alli for their final two matches and need to win against either Southampton and Newcastle to all but guarantee second place and a first finish above rivals Arsenal since the 1994-95 season.
Spurs have also incurred an automatic £25,000 fine for picking up nine bookings at Stamford Bridge — a Premier League record — and both teams have been charged by the FA with failing to control their players.
The clubs have until 6 p.m. on Monday to respond to the charge and are expected to receive significant fines.
