Marcos Alonso given three-match ban for challenge on Shane Long
Chelsea defender Marcos Alonso has been handed a three-match ban following his challenge on Southampton's Shane Long last weekend, the Football Association has announced.
The left wing-back appeared to stand on the back of Long's leg during their Premier League game on Saturday and the incident went unpunished by referee Mike Dean.
The FA confirmed Alonso had denied the violent conduct charge and "further submitted that if found proven the suspension would be excessive". He was found guilty at his Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Wednesday.
https://t.co/laRO3tbqHC Pretty much that. Took all the weight off his foot too. Bit of a farce really.
— FPL Pro (@FPLProfessional) April 17, 2018
Alonso is now ruled out of tonight's Premier League game at Burnley, Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against the Saints and also the league trip to Swansea on April 28.
An FA statement this morning read: "Marcos Alonso will miss Chelsea's next three matches after an Independent Regulatory Commission ruled he had committed an act of violent conduct against Southampton's Shane Long.
"Alonso denied the charge and further submitted that if found proven the suspension would be excessive, however, this was rejected following Wednesday's hearing.
"The incident, which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video, occurred in the 43rd minute of Saturday's game (14/04/18)."
The 27-year-old defender was on Wednesday named in the Professional Footballers' Association's Premier League team of the year - the only representative from Chelsea.
Speaking on Wednesday ahead of the confirmation of Alonso's suspension, Southampton manager Mark Hughes felt it was the "right call" that the Chelsea defender was facing disciplinary action.
"I said after the game I thought it needed to be looked at, not really trying to get somebody in trouble, but I just felt it was a bad challenge," Hughes said at a press conference.
"It has been looked at again and I think there is a quick turnaround on these things so we should hear if there is a suspension put in place. I think it was the right call.
"Clearly it was a poor challenge and should have been seen by the officials. The fourth official, assistant referee and the referee were all pretty close to it.
"The decision in my view would have been the boy would have been sent off and the circumstances of the game would have been different.
"That's gone now and we cannot do anything about that, unfortunately."
