• Premier League

FA will not punish Gerrard over elbow

ESPN staff
March 16, 2010
Steven Gerrard could have ruled himself out of Liverpool's clash with Manchester United © Getty Images
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The FA have confirmed they will take no action against Steven Gerrard following his clash with Portsmouth's Michael Brown during Liverpool's victory at Anfield on Monday night.

The Liverpool captain appeared to elbow Brown in the back of the head in the 73rd minute of their 4-1 win, with Rafael Benitez substituting Gerrard immediately after the incident.

It is understood the FA sought clarification from referee Stuart Attwell, who saw the incident at the time and spoke to Gerrard after awarding Pompey a free-kick, with the FA following guidelines not to punish players retrospectively if the match official sees the alleged offence.

Liverpool boss Benitez said after the game: "I haven't seen it but I was asking and I think it was nothing."

It is the second time in successive games that the Spaniard has had to defend his captain after he appeared to make a V-sign towards referee Andre Marriner in last week's defeat at Wigan Athletic.

Gerrard, who would have faced a possible three-match ban, is now free to face Manchester United at Old Trafford this Sunday.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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