Tottenham star criticised for gesture while playing for England.
Who would have known that one barely crude gesture could make so much fuss?
Dele Alli is finding out the hard way the pressure of being one of England’s biggest stars.
The international midfielder was shown on TV sticking his middle finger up against Slovakia – he says it was a joke towards teammate Kyle Walker amid fears it could have been at the referee.
Ever since, Alli has been pilloried by a succession of pundits, with Chris Sutton and Martin Keown the latest to get stuck in.
Sutton said: “Alli’s hand gesture was an act of pure petulance. Regardless of whether it was aimed at the referee or team-mate Kyle Walker, it warranted a red card. It sets a bad example and I would not be surprised if he was retrospectively banned.
“What Alli did against Slovakia seemed stupid and unprovoked. He can only have been frustrated with his own performance.”
Keown added: “I have heard people say that they like the fighting streak in Dele Alli but what he did at Wembley was just stupid.
“We cannot keep making excuses for his petulant behaviour.”
Alli surely cannot wait for the Premier League to start again this weekend when Spurs travel to Everton and put this all behind him.
His actions were misguided and ill advised but on this occasion no harm came of them… and perhaps the experienced pundits should go easy on the 21-year-old and cut him a little more slack.
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