Tottenham's Alli faces ban for coronavirus post

Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur warms up prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur in London, UK, February 22, 2020. /VCG

Tottenham Hotspur and England midfielder Dele Alli has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association after mocking the coronavirus outbreak.

Alli posted a video on social media of himself at an airport wearing a mask and apparently mocking a man of Asian appearance earlier this month.

He later apologized for the prank.

Screenshot of Dele Alli's apology on his Weibo account

"It wasn't funny and I realized that immediately and took it down. I let myself down and the club," Alli said in a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo.

Alli, 23, has been charged with breaching FA Rule E3 (1) as the post was deemed "insulting and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute," which could lead to punishment with up to six-game ban.

He has until March 5 to submit his response.

(With input from agencies)