Tottenham's Summanen handed two-match ban for "successful deception of a match official"

Tottenham midfielder Eveliina Summanen has been handed a two-match suspension by the Football Association for her part in the ejection of England star Emma Toone during Manchester United's 2-1 WSL win on Feb. 12. The FA announced the decision on Tuesday, stating that Summanen had committed a "successful deception of a match official" that led to Toone's red card. During the match, Toone was seen shoving Summanen's shoulders down to the pitch after a confrontation. Shortly after, Summanen dramatically grabbed her face as if she had been struck there. Manchester United manager Marc Skinner reportedly called Summanen's actions "play acting," and vowed to appeal the three-match suspension that accompanied Toone's red card. The appeal was successful, and an independent hearing found Summanen guilty of deception, stating that her actions amounted to improper conduct. Tottenham expressed disappointment and shock over the decision, according to BBC Sport. Summanen has denied the charge and is reportedly continuing to make inquiries into the verdict. As a result of the suspension, Summanen will miss an FA Cup match against Reading on Feb. 26 and a WSL game at Manchester City on March 5. Tottenham will now have to play without one of their key midfielders for these crucial games. However, Manchester United will be relieved to have Toone available for their upcoming games, now that the decision to eject her has been overturned. Skinner expressed his pleasure with the FA's decision in a news conference, stating that he was happy Toone would be able to play in the upcoming matches. Skinner also emphasized the importance of players understanding their responsibilities on the field, stating that education is a key aspect of the game. "We all learned from it and we move forward," he said. Meanwhile, Tottenham will be hoping to have Summanen reinstated as soon as possible. The suspension is a blow for the team as they look to secure a spot in the top half of the WSL table. It remains to be seen whether Summanen's inquiries into the verdict will yield any results.