LONDON, December 8- Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has been charged with violent conduct in relation to an alleged elbow on West Ham’s Winston Reid during Saturday’s goalless draw between the two sides.
The incident in question occurred in the first half of the fixture, with the Germany international appearing to catch Reid with an elbow as the pair jostled for position prior to a free-kick.
Referee Mark Clattenburg spoke to both players as tempers flared after the clash, but the official did not see the elbow and it was not included in his match report. As such, the Football Association were able to take retrospective action.
An FA statement read: “Bastian Schweinsteiger has been charged for an alleged act of violent conduct which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.
“The Manchester United midfielder was involved in an incident with West Ham United’s Winston Reid in the 40th minute of the game on Saturday, December 5, 2015.
“The matter was referred to a panel of three former elite referees who each reviewed the video footage independently of one another to determine whether they considered it a sending-off offence.
“For an FA charge to follow the decision by the panel must be unanimous. The player has until 12 noon on Thursday 10 December 2015 to reply to the charge.”
If found guilty, the 31-year-old could be slapped with a three-match ban.