Mousa Dembele is set to miss the start of next season after being charged with violent conduct for gouging Diego Costa’s left eye.
The Football Association yesterday confirmed the Tottenham star has a case to answer and he faces the prospect of a seven-game ban which will run into the start of the 2016-17 campaign.
The FA have also hit Tottenham and Chelsea with three charges each of failing to control their players during Monday night’s explosive Barclays Premier League clash.
But it is the prospect of losing key central midfielder Dembele for the opening matches of next season that will concern the Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Television replays appeared to show the Belgium midfielder gouge the eye area of Chelsea’s controversial Spaniard during the touchline bust-up that involved players and management staff from both teams.
FA chiefs deem the offence worthy of a greater punishment than the standard three-match suspension that usually applies to violent conduct charges. That means, if found guilty, Dembele, who has until 6pm today to respond to the charge, will miss the two games left this season and the opening weeks of the next.
‘Mousa Dembele has been charged for an alleged act of violent conduct which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video during the same game,’ read an FA statement.
‘The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was involved in an incident with Chelsea’s Diego Costa near the end of the first half. Further, it is alleged the player’s behaviour constituted violent conduct in circumstances where the standard punishment of three matches that would otherwise apply is clearly insufficient.’
Erik Lamela, however, escaped sanctions despite accusations from Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas the Argentinian deliberately stamped on his hand during the London derby. It is understood Chelsea chiefs are bewildered by the FA’s decision not to retrospectively charge Lamela over the incident. Chelsea and Tottenham also face hefty fines for failing to control their players following three separate melees during the encounter.
‘Both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have been charged with three breaches of FA Rule E20 for failing to control their players and/or officials,’ the statement continued.
‘It follows incidents which occurred in the 45th and 87th minutes and also at the end of the game at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.
‘Both clubs have until 6pm on Monday May 9 to respond to their charge.’
Tottenham have also been fined £25,000 for totting up nine bookings — a record for a Premier League game — in the 2-2 draw that ended their title hopes. – Daily Mail