Tottenham’s Dele Alli charged with violent conduct

Spurs' Dele Alli has been charged with violent conduct after allegedly punching the West Brom midfielder Claudio Yacob in the stomach during the sides' 1-1 draw on Monday.

The England midfielder, who was voted PFA Young Player of the Year at the weekend, faces a retrospective three-match ban if found guilty, putting him out for the rest of the season.

The incident was missed by the referee Mike Jones but that was not enough for Alli to escape a Football Association charge. The 20-year-old has until 6pm on Wednesday to reply.

It is not the first time Alli has landed himself in hot water this season. He was lucky to escape punishment for throwing a ball in the face of the Sunderland defender Patrick van Aanholt in January and the same month the Crystal Palace manager, Alan Pardew, accused him of stamping on Yohan Cabaye. In February he seemed to drag his feet over an opponent's back against Fiorentina in the Europa League.

His manager Mauricio Pochettino believes Dele Alli is becoming a target for opposition teams trying to provoke him. "I hear some comments but I have no time to see the action," said Pochettino of the incident with Yacob.

“Sometimes the opponent find him and try to provoke, they know he has a strong character and may react.

“I don’t know what has happened, we will see. I have nothing to comment now but Dele has a strong character if you wind him up.”

The draw against West Brom means Leicester can win the title with victory at Manchester United on Sunday as they sit seven points clear of second-placed Tottenham with just three games remaining.

“It is not over,” Pochettino insisted. “The gap is seven points and we have ahead three games.

“It is true that it is very difficult, more difficult than before the game, but we still believe and we are still fighting.

“We have to hope Leicester drop points and we get three points at Chelsea [next Monday].”