Mauricio Pochettino: Tottenham manager handed two-match touchline ban for Mike Dean row

Pochettino strode on to the pitch to confront Dean after the 2-1 defeat at Turf Moor last month, a result that severely damaged his side's Premier League title chances

Mauricio Pochettino has been handed a two-match touchline ban and fined £10,000 following his clash with referee Mike Dean following Tottenham's Premier League game with Burnley.

Pochettino strode on to the pitch to confront Dean after the 2-1 defeat at Turf Moor last month, a result that severely damaged his side's Premier League title chances.

The FA have deemed that the Argentine's actions amount to misconduct and he will be subsequently be forced to watch on from the stands for Spurs' next two games against Southampton and Liverpool.

A statement from the governing body read: "Mauricio Pochettino has been fined £10,000 and will serve a two-match touchline ban following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing.

"The Tottenham Hotspur manager accepted an improper conduct charge from The FA, which resulted from his language and/or behaviour – both on the pitch and in or around the tunnel area – at the end of the game against Burnley on 23 February."

Television pictures appeared to show Pochettino reacting angrily to something that Dean said during their meeting on the pitch, although neither party has revealed publicly the details of the exchange.

Pochettino accepted that, in his own words, he “crossed the line” during an argument, and did not contest an FA charge.

Tottenham’s manager was upset about some of Dean’s decisions during the game; he was seen to be in an animated conversation with fourth official Craig Pawson after Chris Wood scored Burnley’s opening goal from a corner that should not have been awarded, while there was anger too that home defender Phil Bardsley was only booked for a scything second-half challenge on Danny Rose.

However, the visitors also benefited from a controversial refereeing decision, with Rose allowed to take quick throw-in five yards further forward from where the ball went out of play in setting up Harry Kane’s equaliser.

Pochettino acknowledged afterwards that his frustration was caused more by his side’s defeat, sealed by Ashley Barnes’ late winner.

This sanction represents the first against Pochettino in his six years in the English game.