Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli has been suspended for three European club matches after he was sent off against Gent last month, Uefa has announced.
Alli received a straight red card for his reckless tackle on Gent’s Brecht Dejaegere, in which the 20-year-old speared his right foot high into Dejaegere’s shin.
The ban will relate to any European club matches, meaning Alli will miss the first three games of next season's Champions League if Spurs qualify for the tournament again.
Alli was sent off in Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Gent at Wembley, which saw the Premier League club knocked out of the Europa League with a 3-2 aggregate loss.
A Uefa statement read: “Tottenham Hotspur FC player Dele Alli has been suspended for three (3) Uefa competition matches for which he would otherwise be eligible.
“The charges related to a red card given to Dele Alli during the match.”
Alli’s absence will come as a huge blow to Spurs, who flopped in this season’s Champions League by crashing out in the group stages, before losing to Gent in the last 32 of the Europa League.
They are on course to qualify for Europe’s premier tournament again, sitting second in the Premier League table, but their chances of reaching the knock-out stages will be hampered without Alli.
The youngster starred in England’s defeat to Germany on Wednesday and has enjoyed another excellent season for his club, registering 14 goals and six assists in the league so far.
The ban might sharpen Alli’s determination to control his temper, however, with the midfielder admitting he felt “horrible” following his dangerous challenge on Dejaegere, which all-but cost Tottenham their place in the competition.
It was Alli's first straight red card of his career but he received a retrospective three-match ban at the end of last season for punching West Brom's Claudio Yacob in the stomach.
His latest punishment will not effect Tottenham’s upcoming league fixtures. Mauricio Pochettino’s side next travel to Burnley on April 1st.
