Marcos Alonso to miss Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final with Southampton after retrospective three-match ban
The Spanish wing-back is out of this weekend's Wembley clash plus two further Premier League games
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Marcos Alonso will miss Sunday's FA Cup semi-final after receiving a retrospective three-match ban from the FA.
The Spaniard escaped censure for an apparent stamp on Shane Long during last week's Premier League clash at St Mary's, but the Sky cameras caught the incident an a panel of former elite officials unanimously decided Alonso's challenge merited a ban.
An FA statement 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."
Saints boss Mark Hughes welcomed the punishment, but lamented that it wasn't spotted at the time and Chelsea were left with 11 men to complete a comeback victory that is hugely damaging for Southampton's survival prospects.
"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," said Hughes.
"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."
Chelsea will likely call on January signing Emerson Palmieri, an £18m recruit from Roma, to deputise in Alonso's absence.
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