Marouane Fellaini under investigation by FA over spitting claims Manchester United midfielder could face three-game ban Follows clash with Pablo Zabaleta during Manchester derby Marouane Fellaini is booked after clashing with Pablo Zabaleta during the Manchester derby. Marouane Fellainis problematic first season as a Manchester United player has taken another turn for the worse after it emerged he is being investigated by the Football Association for a possible spitting offence against the Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta. The FA are reviewing footage from Citys 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford to establish whether Fellaini spat at Zabaleta in the aftermath of elbowing his opponent to the ground. Zabaleta was lying on the floor when the follow-up incident allegedly took place and the FA have seen footage, shot from behind Fellaini, that appears to incriminate the former Everton midfielder. Zabaleta has also seen the television pictures and, though City will not lodge an official complaint, the club are expecting the FA to look further into it. The Argentinian had his hands covering his face at the time and did not see, or feel, anything other than the blow to the side of his head from Fellainis elbow. The FA will investigate after pictures emerged of Marourane Fellaini appearing to spit at Manchester Citys Pablo Zabaleta. Photograph: You Tube If the FA think there is sufficient evidence, Fellaini will be charged with misconduct and the offence will carry a three-match ban, in line with George Boyds punishment for his clash with Joe Hart when Manuel Pellegrinis team played at Hull City on 15 March. The governing body will first request that Sky pass over the various camera angles from the relevant passage of the game. United will also be asked to submit their own footage. As it stands, Fellainis face cannot be seen and the FA are likely to need something more conclusive. Nothing was reported on the night and the referee, Michael Oliver, clearly did not see anything. Fellaini was booked for the collision with Zabaleta but fortunate not to be shown a red bearing in mind the seriousness of the offence. It is when he is protesting his innocence that he turns to Zabaleta and the television cameras capture the footage that is now in the possession of the FAs disciplinary investigators. Fellaini has not scored once in his first season at United and his performances were criticised by Paul Scholes during his television analysis of the defeat to City. The Belgians substitution was cheered by the home crowd, just as it was in the 3-0 defeat against Liverpool, and his explanation for the elbow has not been entirely convincing. I certainly didnt do it on purpose, he said. I put my arm up to try and protect possession of the ball, and Zabaleta bounced against it. He was unlucky to make contact.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 13:39:46 +0000
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