Van Persie escapes ban over 'elbow' on Cabaye in Tyneside win

- Adapted from Daily Mail

Manchester United striker Robin van Persie will not face retrospective action from the Football Association despite appearing to elbow Newcastle United’s Yohan Cabaye in his side’s 3-0 win on Tyneside.

Van Persie faced a three-match ban if found guilty of violent conduct.

Cabaye was adamant the striker hit him in the mouth as he remonstrated with referee Howard Webb, who missed the off-the-ball collision.

Cabaye and Van Persie, who had an unsavoury spat with Newcastle keeper Tim Krul at the Emirates last season, had been niggling throughout and had to be pulled apart by Webb after the incident.

Van Persie was substituted four minutes later.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said after the game that he felt the incident warranted further investigation, saying: “He has looked at Yohan and he has elbowed him, and I think that perhaps needs to be looked at, if I am honest.

“There's a bit of history from last year and I don't know if Robin has been caught up in that, but that was just a little bit unsavoury.

“I actually thought Yohan wouldn't have gone down if he hadn't done something.

“I didn't see it myself, but I have obviously seen it on the replay and it looks like he has looked at him and put his elbow there.”

No action will be taken either in regard to Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote, who appeared to stamp on Tom Cleverley's leg, or to Stoke defender Robert Huth, who was involved in a similar incident with Liverpool forward Luis Suarez.

In both cases, the incidents were seen by officials at the time and therefore no further action can be taken.