Season over for Tottenham's Dele Alli after receiving three-match ban

London: Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli will not play again this season after he was given a three-game ban for violent conduct by the Football Association on Thursday. The 20-year-old, elected England’s Young Player of the Year last weekend, was retrospectively punished after punching Claudio Yacob in the stomach during Spurs’ 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

Is this a punch from Dele Alli? pic.twitter.com/Id9aKVL8Gc

— Daily Premier League (@TheDailyPL) April 25, 2016

He will therefore miss Spurs’ final three Premier League games against Chelsea, Southampton and Newcastle United, in which Mauricio Pochettino’s side will look to keep their flickering title hopes alive. “Dele Alli will serve a three-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,” the FA said in a statement. “The player accepted the FA’s charge, but contested that the automatic penalty of a three-match suspension would be ‘clearly excessive’. “This claim, however, was rejected following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today (Thursday).” Alli, signed from third-tier Milton Keynes Dons last year, has been one of the stars of the season, scoring 10 league goals, and is expected to be selected in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for Euro 2016. He reacted on Twitter by writing: “Gutted that my season is over. Shouldn’t have reacted like I did. Will learn from this and come back stronger.”

Gutted that my season is over. Shouldn’t have reacted like I did. Will learn from this and come back stronger.

— Dele (@dele_official) April 28, 2016

Spurs’ draw against West Brom left them seven points adrift of leaders Leicester City, who can clinch the title by winning at Manchester United on Sunday.