Mousa Dembele could face a ten-game Football Association ban if he is found guilty of gouging the eye of Diego Costa.

Dembele was one of nine Tottenham players to be booked during the heated London derby against Chelsea on Monday, with the FA expected to look into a number of the game’s most controversial moments and consider charging those involved.

The Belgium midfielder was pictured gouging the eye of Chelsea striker Costa during the 2-2 draw, which spelled the end of Tottenham’s title charge and crowned Leicester champions.

According to Andrew Dillon of The Sun, Dembele could face a ten-game ban for the incident.

Dillon reports the exclusive that ‘FA chiefs are classing the incident in the same bracket as Luis Suarez’s infamous bite on Blues ace Branislav Ivanovic’. Then-Liverpool striker Suarez was banned for ten games after his confrontation with Chelsea defender Ivanovic in April 2013. Dillon writes:

‘The first-half flashpoint between Dembele and Costa was missed by ref Mark Clattenburg — but is being treated as an “extraordinary event” — leaving the way clear for the FA to throw the book at Belgian Dembele. ‘FA chiefs sifted through footage of the powderkeg clash and sought opinions from third parties, as well as Clattenburg and his team of officials. ‘Dembele will be clobbered with a ban expected to be heavier than the minimum three matches for violent conduct. Chelsea and Spurs will also be hit with charges of failing to control their players. ‘Tottenham will incur an automatic £25,000 fine for having nine players cautioned — and may also be charged after some fans lobbed missiles at Chelsea’s Eden Hazard as he celebrated scoring the equaliser which ended their title hopes.’

Oh dear.