Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli has been banned for three games by UEFA, European football’s governing body, dealing a blow to the club’s Champions League hopes for next season.
Alli received a straight red card in Tottenham’s UEFA Europa League last 32 tie against Gent on February 23 for a tackle on Brecht Dejaegere.
The ban, announced by UEFA on Friday morning, means Alli, 20, will miss the opening three group games of Tottenham’s next European campaign.
The north London club appears well placed to qualify for the Champions League, lying seven points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United in the English Premier League, ensuring Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino will miss one of his key attacking players for half of next season’s group stage.