Graeme Souness thinks Marouane Fellaini is certain to face retrospective FA punishment

Graeme Souness thinks Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini is certain to be banned by the FA following his clash with Leicester City's Robert Huth during their 1-1 draw on Sunday (1 May). The 28-year-old Belgian appeared to strike the German with his elbow during the feisty encounter at Old Trafford and Souness thinks the FA will take retrospective action.

After the game, United manager Louis van Gaal defender his player, saying it was an understandable reaction to the provocation he faced from Huth, who was spotted pulling the Belgian player's hair.

"This is no surprise. They are both big, strong aggressive men, especially in the air," Souness told Sky Sports. "There is a bit of a tangle and I tell you what, Huth is lucky as well as Fellaini. I say Huth is lucky because he has caught him under the chin. If that catches him full square ,across his face, then he's lost several teeth or broke his nose and I don't think he can stay on the pitch.

"In that respect, he is lucky, but Fellaini won't escape a ban for that. I just can't see it."

Meanwhile, Van Gaal has rubbished the suggestion the United midfielder should face a ban for his part in the incident. "I don't think so. It's not in the books that someone has to grab by the hair and then pull it behind - only in sex masochism."

The United boss added: "Fellaini is reacting like a human being because when I grab you with your hair and pull it backwards, you shall do also something to me, I believe."