Antonio Conte banned from Tottenham’s crunch Champions League clash in Marseille in huge blow after VAR-rage red card

ANTONIO CONTE will be banned for next week’s crucial Champions League match at Marseille.

The Spurs boss will also not be allowed to directly communicate with his players or staff or enter the dressing room next Tuesday.

It comes after he was sent off by referee Danny Makkelie in the closing stages of Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at home to Sporting for blasting the decision to disallow Harry Kane’s stoppage-time strike.

A red card shown to an official in a Uefa competition carries an automatic one-match suspension.

Conte will have to sit in the stands of the Stade Velodrome, where Spurs need a draw to qualify for the last 16.

Article 69 of Uefa’s disciplinary regulations states: “A team manager/coach or other team official who is sent off or suspended from carrying out his function may not be in the technical area or communicate directly with the team’s players and/or technical staff during the match.

“In addition, a team manager/coach or any other team official who is suspended from carrying out his function may not enter the dressing room or tunnel before or during the match.”

Spurs can appeal, and are still deciding whether or not they will.

The club are also awaiting confirmation from Uefa as to the exact reason for the red card.

But Conte is also in danger of further punishment once referee Makkelie has handed in his match report for the Group D fixture.

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Conte was still seething when he spoke afterwards and Uefa may also investigate his post-match comments.

During his short press conference, the 53-year-old accused VAR of being dishonest, creating “big damage” and insisted it would not have disallowed Kane’s goal had it been for a “top team, in an important game” before he walked out after one question.

The England captain sparked wild celebrations with a 95th-minute winner which would have sealed Spurs’ last-16 Champions League spot.

Emerson Royal headed the ball against a Sporting defender but Kane was deemed to be offside.

And, after a four-minute video review, ref Makkelie disallowed it.