Fernando Torres coul be banned for four games for tangling with Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen

Chelsea forward Fernando Torres scratches Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres could be handed a four-game ban after deliberately scratching Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen in the face during the explosive London Derby on Saturday. The Daily Mail reports.

According to the Sportsmail referee Mike Dean had first booked Torres for rashly tackling Vertonghen and not for attacking the Belgian defender in the aftermath of the tackle. Dean’s assistants failed to notice the skirmish and the referee will point this out when he heads to the FA’s disciplinary department today.

After that three former referees will review the case and will then decide Torres’s fate. The striker could be banned for violent conduct if found guilty.

If the verdict does not go in the Spaniard’s favor he could be penalized with a thee game ban plus the automatic one-match ban which is given if a player is shown a red card.

The 29-year-old will be able to play in Chelsea’s European campaign but will miss the Blues’s matches against Norwich, Cardiff and Manchester City and the crucial game against Arsenal in the Capital One Cup.

The Spanish international will be displeased with the ban and was clearly upset when he was shown a second yellow for a mid-air collision with Vertonghen.

The former Liverpool hitman had an excellent game against Tottenham and looked threatening especially during the second half of the game.

Torres had given a strong performance last season in the game against Steaua Bucharest in the Europa League until he was hauled off the pitch with a broken nose.

Chelsea boss Mourinho cleared the officials of any blame but alleged that Vertonghen exaggerated the incident in order to compel the referee to send Torres off.

‘When you do that to someone from your same profession, I think it’s a disgrace,’ said the Portuguese manager. ‘When nobody touches you and nobody hurts you and you pretend that the opponent made a violent contact, you are putting the referee in a very difficult situation. The referee trusts the player and gives a bad decision.

‘The red card is a big mistake. If I was the boss of the committee I would give a one-match suspension to the Tottenham defender.’

The 50-year-old appeared to encourage Torres after he was sent off. ‘He knows I’m very happy with his performances,’ said the manager, who thought his striker’s improved physical condition was the key to his good form, rather than simply an explosion of rage.

‘He’s very strong, physically. I was watching Fernando’s matches for Chelsea in other seasons and he looked a bit heavy, a little slow. I think Fernando looks in fantastic shape now.’