Dele Alli has been defended by former manager Karl Robinson after his middle-finger gesture at Wembley.

The Tottenham star was captured on camera making the obscene gesture in the direction of referee Clement Turpin during England’s 2-1 win over Slovakia on Monday.

The 21-year-old claimed the middle finger was jokingly aimed at ex-Spurs team-mate Kyle Walker, who joined Manchester City in the summer.

But Fifa is “gathering evidence” over the incident.

And Charlton boss Robinson, who gave Alli his senior debut as a 16-year-old at MK Dons, has played down the midfielder’s actions.

He told News Shopper: “I’m sick of people having a go at him - just leave him alone. Listen, he needs to be told what he did probably wasn't right.

“At no stage does Dele ever worry about 80,000 fans and the millions watching around the world, he is a kid who wants to play football.

News Shopper:

Charlton manager Karl Robinson | Picture: Benjamin Peters Photography

“He sees that football pitch as we used to see playing on a school playground - it’s how he plays. He plays free.

“Sometimes he gets carried away with that. But it’s typical of us, he makes one or two little mistakes, and all of a sudden as a country, we’re looking to nail him to the mast. I don't think that’s fair. He’s an unbelievable young man.”

Alli scored 16 goals in Robinson’s MK Dons side that won promotion to the Championship in 2015, before joining Tottenham.

He has been one of Spurs’ best players for the past two seasons, and is a regular starter for England.

Robinson was in contact with Alli after England’s 2-1 win against Slovakia.

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He added: “I actually texted him after the game, there was a free-kick from 40 yards which Marcus Rashford took and I texted him saying ‘I thought you used to practise them when you were 15?’

“It doesn't surprise me because when you get to that level, there’s a media scrutiny that surrounds that. But for me, he’s done what he’s done, if he learns a lesson, he’ll learn a lesson but most importantly it’s about him playing football.

“He’s a very respectful young man who has been brought up very well. Away from the football pitch he is a great kid and a top player on it.

“So all the negatives he does on it are very minor, he needs to learn a lesson and needs to understand that. I’ve known him since he was a kid - he knows I’ll stick up for him for anything.”