FIFA slap England and Tottenham star Dele Alli with one-match ban after “offensive and unsporting” gesture
Soccer Football - 2018 World Cup Qualifications - Europe - England vs Slovakia - London, Britain - September 4, 2017 England’s Dele Alli and Harry Kane REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
England midfielder Dele Alli has been suspended for one international match following his middle-finger gesture.
FIFA have banned the Tottenham Hotspur star following the incident during the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Slovakia earlier this month.
The 21-year-old, who has scored three goals in seven appearances in all competitions for Spurs so far this season, has also been fined 5,000 Swiss francs (£3,852) by FIFA after labelling his gesture as “offensive and unsporting”.
Alli will therefore miss next Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Slovenia at Wembley Stadium, but the central midfielder will be available for the game against Lithuania on the Sunday, after being included in manager Gareth Southgate’s squad on Thursday.
England and Tottenham’s Dele Alli.
The midfielder was caught on camera making a middle-finger gesture, which the player later claimed was directed at team-mate Kyle Walker, rather than the referee.
Southgate’s Three Lions sit top of Group F, five points clear of second placed Slovakia, heading into their final two qualifiers early next month.
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