West Ham United’s Ghanaian winger, Mohammed Kudus faces an extended suspension following his red card incident in last month’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur.
Initially serving a standard three-match suspension for the sending off, Kudus’s punishment has been increased by the Football Association (FA) after an independent Regulatory Commission’s ruling.
The 24-year-old Ghana international will now miss five matches in total and has been fined £60,000 ($77,286) for his actions, which were deemed violent conduct.
The incident occurred in the 82nd minute of West Ham’s 4-1 defeat at Tottenham on October 19.
Kudus was involved in an altercation where he fouled Spurs defender Micky van de Ven and subsequently pushed Van de Ven and Pape Matar Sarr in the face.
The initial yellow card issued by referee Andy Madley was reviewed by VAR, which upgraded it to a straight red, initiating the automatic three-match suspension.
Kudus’s three-match suspension included absences from West Ham’s 2-1 victory over Manchester United, their 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, and their upcoming fixture against Everton.
The FA’s additional disciplinary action means Kudus will also miss crucial league matches against Newcastle United on November 25 and Arsenal on November 30.
The independent commission’s report noted Kudus’s regretful behavior, including an apology where he expressed being “deeply embarrassed” by his actions.
West Ham, meanwhile, have been fined £30,000 for failing to control their players during the incident, a charge they admitted to.
Tottenham Hotspur, who were also part of the altercation, had previously been fined £20,000 in October.
“Whilst the Club is disappointed with the outcome, it respects the process that has been undertaken,” West Ham said in a statement.