Liverpool midfielder Emre Can downplayed the elbowing incident involving Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini in the Europa League Last 16 first-leg clash at Anfield.
“It was just a small fight,” Can told reporters after the game.
“Fellaini is a fair sportsman. He touched my head a bit with his elbow but that’s okay. It’s not a problem.”
The Reds won the Europa League Last 16 first-leg tie 2-0 with goals from Sturridge and Firminho.
Fellaini appeared to elbow Can in Thursday night’s Europa League match but match referee Carlos Velasco Carballo missed the incident.
UEFA could punish Fellaini for violent conduct according to BT Sport analyst and former referee Howard Webb.
The replays do show Fellaini hitting Can with his elbow but it will be up to UEFA to decide whether it was intentional or not.
.@HowardMWebb expects UEFA to look into @Fellaini's off-the-ball "act of violent conduct" on Emre Can. #LFCvMUFC https://t.co/mFC2k9M2lG
— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) March 10, 2016
Can was involved in another incident where retrospective action resulted in a player being banned for violent conduct that had been missed by the referee.
Chelsea striker Diego Costa stamped on Can last season during the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge but the referee Michael Oliver did not see the incident.
The FA later charged Costa with violent conduct and issued the Blues striker with a three-match ban.
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Video: Man Utd midfielder Fellaini faces ban over Emre Can elbow in defeat to Liverpool
Diego Costa gets three-match ban for Emre Can stamp
