Torres facing four-match ban for 'attack' on Tottenham's Vertonghen

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres is set to face a four-match ban for a ‘gouging’ attack on Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen in a 1-1 draw between the two teams on Saturday.

According to the Mirror, Torres is now poised to fall foul of FA beaks over his initial spat with Vertonghen during Saturday's match, in which he appeared to scratch and scrape at the defender's face. Despite the video evidence showing there was no contact with the Belgian's face in the incident that sparked his dismissal, Torres has no right of appeal under FA rules, the report said.

Blues manager Jose Mourinho accused Vertonghen of conning ref Mike Dean by staying down and implying Torres had elbowed him in an aerial challenge that saw Dean show the Spaniard his second yellow card.

However, he now faces a further disciplinary charge and becoming the first player judged by the Premier League and FA's new video panel of former referees over the first flashpoint, the report further said.

Image: Fernando Torres of Chelsea is challenged by Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur during their EPL match on Saturday

Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images