Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli has been hit with a three match suspension by UEFA for violent conduct in the match against Gent. The 20-year-old was expected to face retrospective punishment for his extremely poor tackle on Gent’s Brecht Dejaegere when the two teams met each other in the Europa League knockout stages.

Spurs failed to progress past the last 32 stage after a 3-2 score on aggregate. After suffering a 1-0 loss in the first leg, Tottenham could only manage a 2-2 draw in the return leg at home. This disappointing result was only compounded by Dele Alli’s sending off in the game.

Spurs never recovered from the red card given to the midfielder, who is one of the most influential players for the club. Alli has been in sensational form this season and has taken his game to the next level. Last season, he was one of the surprise names to break through into the Premier league squad. Now, he happens to be one of the top names in English football. The ban means that he will effectively miss the first three games of the Champions League group stages next season. Spurs are overwhelming favourites to secure a second straight campaign in the premier European competition.

Spurs are on the verge of qualification to next season’s Champions League after opening up a two-point advantage over Manchester City in the third spot. The club have been on an amazing run of form in the Premier League, losing just one game since the middle of December.

They have only dropped points against Manchester City, Sunderland, and Liverpool in this run. Other teams dropping points has enabled the club to take advantage in the race for the top four. Even though these dropped points have resulted in Spurs falling out of the title race, Pochettino will see this campaign as a significant step in the right direction if they finish in the top two places.

The club are 10 points behind Chelsea with 10 matches left in the campaign. Spurs are also in the FA Cup semifinals and are hoping to win the title for the ninth time in their history.

Watch the challenge Alli made here.