Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini was given a three-match suspension on Monday after accepting a charge of violent conduct for head-butting Stoke's Ryan Shawcross.

Fellaini wasn't punished by referee Mark Halsey, who missed the incident which occured in the 59th minute of Everton's 1-1 draw against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

But the 25-year-old was charged retrospectively after the Football Association reviewed footage of his clash with Stoke defender Shawcross, who had grappled with the Belgian just before the incident as they prepared for a corner.

A statement from the FA also referred to two other clashes between Fellaini and Shawcross, but Halsey has confirmed he saw both and did not consider them violent conduct.

Fellaini had already apologized for his conduct and Everton manager David Moyes also condemned the incident.

"I apologize completely to Ryan Shawcross, my teammates and to our fans at the game," Fellaini said in a statement released soon after Saturday's match. "There was a lot of pushing and pulling going on inside the Stoke penalty area and I didn't feel I was getting any protection from the officials.

"Nevertheless I know I shouldn't have done what I did. I have also apologized to the manager and the staff."

AFP

(China Daily 12/19/2012 page23)