Sissoko charged by FA after elbowing man in face

Matt Stead

Tottenham’s Moussa Sissoko has been charged by the Football Association over an incident on Saturday involving Bournemouth’s Harry Arter.

Sissoko caught fellow midfielder Arter in the face with his elbow in the second half of Spurs’ 0-0 Premier League draw with the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium. We wrote after the game about how the club had shed their former image, but that it could come at a cost.

An FA statement on Monday said that incident, not seen by referee Craig Pawson or his fellow officials at the time, had led to Sissoko being charged for an alleged act of violent conduct, and that he has until 6pm on Tuesday to respond.

The Frenchman looks to be facing a three-match suspension.

Arter reacted angrily immediately after the incident as both sets of players clashed on the pitch.

But later he was more sympathetic, insisting he hoped Sissoko avoided a ban.

“He caught me straight in the face and if you get hit in the face anyone would have a reaction,” Arter said.

“After the game he apologised. I’m not one to hold grudges. He said sorry, he didn’t mean (to do) it, so that’s end of.

“It looks like he elbowed me but he apologised and said it was an accident so that’s good to me.

“At times in the heat of the battle you react differently and now I feel happy with his apology and if he didn’t mean it hopefully he doesn’t get banned.”