Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Moussa Dembele has been handed a six-match ban with immediate effect due to his actions against Chelsea.

The Belgian international was guilty of eye-gouging Chelsea striker Diego Costa during a hot-tempered 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge on Monday.




The incident went unnoticed by the match officials but was caught on video.

Dembele accepted the charge that had been labelled against him, though denying the FA's claim that the usual three-match ban would be insufficient in his case.
 


An Independent Regulatory Commission today upheld the FA's claim at a hearing and instructed the ban to be increased to six.  

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Demeble therefore will now be barred from taking part in his side's last two league matches of the season and also four matches during the early part of next season.

"Moussa 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", a statement on the FA's official website revealed.

The match against Chelsea was disappointing for the Lilywhites in ways more than one with the north Londoners failing to keep their slim hope of winning the league title alive by managing only one point against the Pensioners.