Spurs midfielder Dembele gets six-game ban for eye-gouging

LONDON, AP:

Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele has been banned for six games after appearing to gouge the eye of Chelsea striker Diego Costa in a fiery London derby in the English Premier League.

The English Football Association said Dembele accepted the charge of violent conduct for the offence but contested the FA's claim that a standard punishment of a three-game suspension would be insufficient.

An independent commission upheld the FA's claim at a hearing yesterday.

Dembele will miss Tottenham's final two Premier League games, and serve the rest of the ban next season.

The Belgium international was charged retrospectively because the incident was missed by match officials in Monday's 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.