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England's Dele Alli and Kyle Walker submit evidence to Fifa that middle-finger gesture was personal joke
Dele Alli and Kyle Walker have each submitted written statements to Fifa in support of England’s submission that the Tottenham midfielder’s middle finger gesture was aimed at his team-mate.
If found guilty, Alli could face a four-game ban that would rule him out of at least the first two games of the World Cup in Russia. As well as the written statements, the FA have also submitted video evidence to back up their contention that Alli meant no offence to the match official and that it was actually an ‘in’ joke between the two friends.
They have requested a decision before England’s next game, so that a potential ban could kick in immediately and include the final two qualifying games against Slovenia and Lithuania.
Alli has become central to England as well as Tottenham, who impressively brushed aside Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Fernando Llorente also revealed after the game that his reason for choosing Tottenham above Chelsea on transfer deadline day had been the personal and late intervention of manager Mauricio Pochettino.
“The truth is that Chelsea have been after me for a long time but at the end you know how this works,” he said. “At the very last minute Pochettino called me and convinced me [to join Tottenham]. The Tottenham project is impressive. They have done very well in the last few years and I think I fit very well with this project.
"It is clear that Pochettino played a very important role in the decision. I have known him since he was playing in Spain. There is even a nice anecdote because I made my first-team debut (with Athletic Club Bilbao) against him at San Mamés. He was at the end of his playing career and I was at the beginning of mine. Now I play under him at Tottenham and I really want to give my best."
Llorente’s match time will be limited by the form of Harry Kane and, having previously won three Serie A titles with Juventus and the World Cup with Spain, there was a glowing tribute for the England striker. “I think he's awesome, one of the best strikers in the world, if not to say the best,” said Llorente. “In front of goal, he's lethal. The truth is he is in a sweet moment, and we have to make the best of that. He gives us so much. He's an extremely complete player, he doesn't just score. In every aspect, he's very complete.”