The Football Association - who have already been notified of Tottenham’s intention to appeal - are still awaiting Riley’s report while their compliance and disciplinary department wait to make what could prove to be a crucial decision in Spurs’ season.

Riley had accepted Glenn Hoddle’s insistence that he take a second look at the incident on video later.

If Sheringham’s red card, only the second of his career, stands, he will miss the FA Cup third round tie against Coventry, the first leg of the Worthington Cup semi-final against Chelsea and the return Premiership match against Ipswich at Portman Road.

Sheringham protested his innocence after the match, insisting: ‘‘I had to raise my arms to get the fellow off me because he was pulling my shirt as he had been all day.

‘‘If anything it was pushing but when the referee came up and told the other fellow he was giving him the yellow card for what he was doing I feared the worst.

‘‘When I look at the incident again I can see what a difficult job the referee has. All I can say is that I never had any intention to throw a punch and I just hope he sees it that way when he looks at it again.’’