Premier League: FA charge Huth, Fellaini with violent conduct

London, United Kingdom: Leicester City’s Robert Huth and Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini were charged with violent conduct on Tuesday after clashing in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, the Football Association announced. Belgian midfielder Fellaini appeared to swing his elbow into Huth’s jaw after the German centre-back seemed to pull his hair in an incident missed by match referee Michael Oliver but picked up by television cameras. After referring the matter to a panel of three former elite referees, the FA elected to charge both players. [caption id=“attachment_1667971” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini. Reuters[/caption] “Marouane Fellaini and Robert Huth have both been charged for alleged acts of violent conduct which were not seen by the match officials but caught on video,” the FA said in a statement on its website. “The Manchester United midfielder and Leicester City defender were involved in an incident in the 21st minute of their game on Sunday (1 May 2016). “Both players have until 6pm (1700 GMT) on Wednesday 4 May 2016 to reply to their charge.” Both men face three-match suspensions if found guilty. In Huth’s case, it would mean missing newly crowned champions Leicester’s final home game against Everton on Saturday, after which his side will be presented with the Premier League trophy. He would also miss their final game of the campaign, at Chelsea, and the first match of next season. Midfielder Danny Drinkwater, who was sent off at Old Trafford, will also miss the Everton game. Fellaini would miss United’s last three league games, but would be available for the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace on May 21. United manager Louis van Gaal launched a robust defence of Fellaini after the game, grabbing a TV reporter’s hair to demonstrate Huth’s alleged provocation and likening it to “sex masochism”.