Yaya Toure and Craig Bellamy are facing potential three-match bans as the Football Association reviews television footage of incidents at the weekend.
PA PhotosYaya Toure clashed with Ricky van Wolfswinkel on Saturday, while Craig Bellamy was involved in an incident with Jonathan de Guzman.
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Toure appeared to kick out at Norwich striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel during Manchester City’s 0-0 draw at Carrow Road, while Craig Bellamy is accused of throwing his arm out at Swansea’s Jonathan de Guzman during Cardiff’s 3-0 defeat at the Liberty Stadium.
If the officials on the day confirm that they did not have a clear view of the incidents, the players may be banned for three matches if a three-man panel unanimously deems them worthy under FA guidelines introduced ahead of the current season.
Referee Jon Moss had his back turned as Toure reacted to Van Wolfswinkel and, although Andre Marriner may have partially seen the Bellamy incident, the FA closed a loophole earlier this season that may have protected the Welshman.
The Daily Mirror reports that former referees Eddie Wolstenholme, Steve Dunn and Alan Wiley are set to make up the FA panel.
Another former referee, Graham Poll, wrote in his Daily Mail column that the FA’s disciplinary review panel “really has no consistency” and it is “impossible to predict.”
He continued: “There is also no certainty over whether they will see fit to charge Toure. City fans will say it was a little flick of petulance rather than a violent act.
“If the FA do charge Toure then they will need to also cite Cardiff’s Craig Bellamy for his sneaky elbow on Jonathan de Guzman in the South Wales derby.
“Referees are asked for consistency and the governing body must do the same. That said, in these cases the FA should not take action against either player as neither incident is a major one or particularly violent.
“If they are going to step in on a consistent basis then they should only do so with clear and obvious incidents that the active match officials have missed.”
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini had said at the weekend he was “not concerned” by the prospect of Toure facing retrospective action.
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