Fellaini expected to escape 9-game ban

MAROUANE FELLAINI will be hit with a £150,000 fine by furious Everton boss David Moyes today.

But the Toffees striker is expected to escape with just a three-match ban from the FA after headbutting Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross.

The Everton boss is determined the big Belgian hitman will face the maximum club punishment fine of two weeks’ wages.

Match Of The Day footage highlighted the butt, plus two other separate assaults on Shawcross, any of which could have earned a red card if they had been seen by referee Mark Halsey.

And Goodison officials feared the 25-year-old could have faced a longer ban if retrospective action was taken over all three incidents – or the disciplinary commission decided the butt was more serious than a straight red card offence.

But last night FA sources suggested that their fast-track video process was likely to consider only the most serious headbutt incident meaning Fellaini will probably be back in Everton’s team by the time they go to Newcastle on January 2.

It’s a let-off for Fellaini who is the club’s top scorer – but Moyes is still fuming about the lack of discipline.

He said: “I told the players in the dressing room that is not acceptable, and I won’t allow that from any of my players.”

Fellaini issued an apology both to Shawcross and his manager and team-mates on Saturday night, but that will not save him from another rap from his manager when he reports for training today.

Meanwhile, Stoke’s players have laughed off the attack on their captain. His central defensive partner Robert Huth yesterday wrote on Twitter: “Hate to see diving in the Prem. Stay on your feet Shawcross.”

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Source: DailyStar