Tottenham Hotspur have been left stunned after Mauricio Pochettino was hit with a two-game touchline ban and a £10,000 fine for his rant at referee Mike Dean after his side’s defeat by Burnley.

Spurs insiders believe the Football Association is guilty of double standards in comparison to its treatment of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

The suspension means Pochettino will be in the stands for Tottenham’s games against Southampton and Liverpool, as they look to cement their place in the top four.

Two defeats and a draw in their past three league games have loosened Spurs’ grip on third place, putting them back in a battle with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea for a Champions League qualification spot.

Pochettino made his anger with the punishment clear when he let slip he was facing a ban in his press conference after Tuesday night’s Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund.

Tottenham officials were shocked by the severity of the punishment, believing Pochettino has been harshly dealt with, given the fact he had accepted the charge and issued a public apology.