Everton Midfielder Marouane Fellaini Escapes Headbutt Red Card

Everton won a point at the Britannia Stadium after a 1-1 draw with Stoke City, but they might be facing three games without their star midfielder Marouane Fellaini after the Belgian was caught on camera headbutting Ryan Shawcross.

Shawcross scored the own goal to give Everton a first half lead before Kenwyne Jones scored for the Potters, but it will be Fellaini's violent actions which get most of the post-game coverage.

The referee, Mark Halsey, missed the incident but the Premier League can hand out punishments after the match and with video evidence abundantly clear in showing what happened, Fellaini can expect to be handed a ban for violent conduct.

Fellaini has not been sent off for Everton in the league since November 2010, when he was dismissed in a 1-1 draw against Bolton. But he has already been shown six yellow cards this season.

Everton manager David Moyes condemned his player after the game, as per Daily Mail:

"

We will take the punishment if it is given for it. I have told him in the dressing room that it is not acceptable—I won't accept it as a manager that he does that. There is no absence yet, but he is a really good player and a big part of the team, and that is why I think the biggest disappointment, if anything does happen, is that he will have let the team down.

"

The Toffees are currently in fourth place following their point at Stoke and their next three games, potentially ones that Fellaini will now miss, are away against West Ham United and at home to both Wigan Athletic and Chelsea.

Playing from an advanced midfield role, Fellaini has this season scored eight times and assisted three goals in the Premier League, statistics good enough to be leading his team in both cases.

He will prove to be a big miss for David Moyes if, as expected, he faces punishment for his headbutt on Shawcross.

Follow @karlmatchett

Statistics from WhoScored.com