Soccer:Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini has been banned for three matches after accepting a charge of violent conduct for his clash with Stoke's Ryan Shawcross during Saturday's Premier League game at the Britannia Stadium.
The English Football Association brought the charge retrospectively after reviewing footage of the 1-1 draw.
Fellaini and Everton accepted the charge, little surprise considering the player had already apologised and his manager David Moyes also condemned the incident, meaning he will miss the Toffees’ next three games.
The ban is the equivalent of what the 25-year-old would have received had referee Mark Halsey seen the incident at the Britannia Stadium and issued a red card.
Fellaini will now miss Everton’s Christmas fixtures against West Ham, Wigan and Chelsea and will not be available again until the trip to Newcastle on January 2nd.
A statement from the FA also referred to two other clashes between Fellaini and Shawcross at the Britannia Stadium but Halsey has confirmed he saw both and did not consider them violent conduct.
Fellaini’s absence will be sorely felt by Everton after an inspirational first half of the season.
The Belgium international has scored eight goals and been the driving force of a team currently fifth in the table and pushing for a Champions League place.
