The Football Association are to investigate Michael Ball's stamp on Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Brown's alleged headbutt on Xabi Alonso. Ball was lucky to escape a red card when he appeared to stamp on Ronaldo during the Manchester derby on Saturday.The incident infuriated United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, but Ball went unpunished by referee Rob Styles who missed the incident. City chief Stuart Pearce admitted he would review the incident and now the FA have confirmed they will study television footage before taking any action.
Fulham captain Brown was also lucky to escape a sending off during his side's 1-0 win over Liverpool. Brown appeared to headbutt Alonso off the ball at Craven Cottage leaving the Spaniard with a bloodied nose. The clash went unnoticed by referee Steve Bennett and Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez expressed his frustration at the officials missing the incident.
The FA will now look at both incidents before deciding whether or not to charge Ball and Brown with violent conduct or the more-serious offence of serious foul play. "We will look at the television footage of the incidents tomorrow and ask the officials what action they would have taken had they seen the incidents, and any charges will be based on that," said an FA spokesman.