Mousa Dembele accepts violent conduct charge but contesting extended ban

Mousa Dembele and Tottenham Hotspur have accepted the violent conduct charge against the Belgian midfielder, but are contesting the length of his suspension. The club is apparently arguing that any suspension beyond the standard three matches would be unfair.

This isn't unexpected news. It's the end of the season and Dembele already knows that he won't play at least the last two matches and the first match of next season. Dembele isn't contesting the charge itself – everyone knows he did it – but rather the possibility that he could receive a suspension for five, seven, or even ten matches. In the FA's original statement of the charges, it called the standard punishment of three games "clearly insufficient."

This doesn't mean that they're going to succeed in their appeal, but it does mean that they're hoping that Dembele doesn't get swept under in a wave out outrage over his altercation with Costa.

Eye gouging is bad, and Dembele was a naughty, naughty boy and deserves punishment. The club is arguing, however, that the punishment not outweigh the crime. There's no word on when the appeal will be decided.