FA’S ALLI VERDICT FEAR
THE FA have asked FIFA to move forward their disciplinary hearing against Dele Alli amid fears he will receive a two-game suspension. England manager Gareth Southgate is due to name his squad on Thursday at 2pm for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Lithuania. FIFA are scheduled to decide on the same day whether to punish Alli for his middlefinger gesture in the defeat of Slovakia at Wembley. And that leaves Southgate weighing up whether to select a player he may not be able to use if Alli receives anything more than a one-game ban. The FA have requested FIFA make their ruling on Alli earlier in the week to allow Southgate to plan for the two games — but as it stands the decision is set for Thursday. Alli and the FA are adamant the midfielder’s gesture was not directed at referee Clement Turpin, but towards England team-mate Kyle Walker. Even if the FA convince FIFA that is the case, Alli could still face a ban because such gestures are viewed as not in the spirit of the game. While losing Alli for two games would not be ideal, anything more would mean the 21-year-old Tottenham ace misses the start of next summer’s World Cup. That would be a huge blow to Southgate. The England manager will attend Leicester v Liverpool today, when he should be able to check on Jordan Henderson, Alex OxladeChamberlain, Daniel Sturridge, Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire. Southgate’s assistant Steve Holland will attend West Ham v Tottenham this lunchtime, with Michail Antonio under scrutiny because England are without the injured Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck. Holland will also attend Brighton v Newcastle tomorrow, when Magpies defender Jamaal Lascelles will have the opportunity to impress.