Dele Alli handed one-match ban by Fifa for middle finger gesture during World Cup qualifier against Slovakia earlier this month
DELE ALLI has been handed a one-match ban by Fifa for his middle finger gesture during the World Cup qualifier against Slovakia.
The midfield star, 21, handed the suspension for "offensive and unsporting" behaviour and will now miss the Slovenia game.
Alli has also been handed a £3,500 fine for the gesture, which the youngster claimed was aimed at team-mate Kyle Walker, as part of a friendly in-joke.
The news isn't all bad for England and Alli, as the player could have been slapped with a four-game ban.
A suspension of that length would have seen the Tottenham man miss the first two matches of next summer's World Cup in Russia.
Alli was named in England's squad for the final two qualifiers against Slovenia and Lithuania, with boss Gareth Southgate claiming he risked looking a "shambles".
The Three Lions chief claimed: “We run the risk of looking a shambles because he could be withdrawn again.
“But our hope is that common sense prevails and he is available for the matches.”
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Southgate also revealed he has spoken to Dele, 21, about his future conduct.
He added: “These are young guys and their world is complex in that it’s in the full glare of publicity.
“The thing now is understanding and they are the sorts of things I talk to him about.”
Alli will now only be available for England's final World Cup qualifier against Lithuania on October 8.
