Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele has been banned for six games by the Football Association for violent conduct against Chelsea's Diego Costa.

Belgium international Dembele appeared to eye-gouge forward Costa during Spurs' 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Monday.

Referee Mark Clattenburg did not punish the 28-year-old during the game.

Dembele chose not to contest the charge, and will now be unavailable to manager Mauricio Pochettino until Spurs' fifth game of next season.

He has made 29 appearances in the league this season, scoring three goals.

Dembele was one of nine Spurs players booked in the draw at Stamford Bridge - a Premier League record for one team.

Monday's result ended Tottenham's hopes of winning the Premier League. Pochettino's side have two games remaining this season, against Southampton and Newcastle, with three points almost certain to secure second place.

'The punishment is way too high'

Stoke and former Republic of Ireland keeper Shay Given told BBC Radio 5 live that he thought the punishment was "way too high".

"Looking at the incident, did he stick his finger in his eye and actually gouge his eye?" he said.

"I've seen worse tackles on the field which don't get a suspension or a maximum of three matches. If someone is going to go in two-footed, lunging, and their opponent are out for six to nine months with a broken leg and they don't get a ban - I don't understand that.

"Dembele's fingers weren't right in his eye. He scraped a bit of his face. I think it is harsh. I know the FA are trying to send a message that this isn't acceptable, but I've seen worse things on a football pitch."

Former West Brom striker Jason Roberts agreed, saying: "Things happen on the pitch that can genuinely hurt somebody - like Fellaini's elbow on Huth. That in my opinion was much more dangerous and more of an issue than what Dembele did."

Even rugby players take this seriously, what if he got blind? Eyes are very sensitive and costas career would have been over.

And why is Lamela's stamp on fabregas not being investigated.

Ridicolous that Lamela doesn't get punsihed too. Dembele deserves this penalty hard!!

It's totally deserved. I'm glad and surprised as well that Costa was so calm in this incident.

That's what you get when you try to poke someone's eyeball out. Should've deserved more, tbh. A 20-game ban would've been nice punishment.

I think punishement is inssuficient . Also Lamela should be punished !

@quikzy

Costa is sick of it . If he reacts to reasonable tackle against him then he is a d8ck and FA will ban him . If He does not then he keep getting punished . I am glad this time FA was fair to him .

Truly deserved indeed, even more would've been fine for me. Pathetic c*nt eventhough he has had great season.

That was justified, you don't go around putting your finger in the eyes of other people. Really, what with all the act of violent recently in english football. That is quite annoying and I really hope the FA manage to sent a message to those player. Then again, I'm guessing thing while settle down no matter what, since the EPL is nearly over.

No apologies for that kind of stupid move.

Didn't see this, well everyone here seems to agree on the ban, it was deserved then.

Instead of raging at us Spurs players should rage at their own selves.

Instead of drawing like artists at the start of the season they could man up and win their first games and eventually win the league. I am so surprised Costa did not raised his fists on his face after that, personally I might have gotten to that point in this game.

Lamela does not deserve a ban for me, Cesc overreacted...well... after all he came from a dolphin academy [banter].

diego costa a poor and innocent victim
such a nice guy with a real sense of sportsmanship
then having that awfull aggressor dembele trying to handicap him
it's the whole season revisited