Marouane Fellaini Given 3-Match FA Ban: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini and Leicester City defender Robert Huth have seen their Premier League seasons brought to an abrupt end after being served three-match suspensions for violent conduct.

BBC Sport reported the Football Association handed the pair their punishments on Thursday as a result of their repeated clashes in Sunday's Premier League meeting between their clubs. Huth pulled his opponent's hair before receiving an elbow to the face in response.

Huth will miss Leicester's last two games of the season and the first game of their 2016-17 campaign. Meanwhile, Fellaini will be available for the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace on May 21 after missing United's last three league games of the season.

Fellaini's absence presents an unexpected obstacle for United manager Louis van Gaal, who will be forced to alter his team plans for the remainder of the league campaign.

Van Gaal stood up for his player after Sunday's tie and described Fellaini's actions as "human" after seeing his reply to Huth's hair-pulling, per Sky Sports (h/t Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News):

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When you see what Huth is doing to Fellaini, that's a penalty. Shall I grab you by your hair? What is your reaction when I grab your hair? 

Your hair is shorter than Fellaini but when I do that, what are you doing then? It's a reaction.

Every human being who is grabbed by the hair, only with sex masochism, then it is allowed but not in other situations. They did it. They did it several times I think. 

Huth was the guy who grabbed the hair of Fellaini. I think the reaction of Fellaini is like a human being. He is always like that.

"

The Belgium midfielder was a prominent figure in Sunday's 1-1 draw against the newly christened Premier League champions, making two clearances and maintaining 78.4 per cent passing accuracy, per WhoScored.com.

Van Gaal has drafted Fellaini into his regular starting XI this term after he spent a period on the fringes, with the former Everton talisman failing to start in just one of his last 12 Premier League outings this term.

However, Van Gaal's preference of who should start, as with many decisions at Old Trafford of late, may not represent the fans' opinion, as illustrated by Benchwarmers:

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Man Utd fans hearing that Maroune Fellaini has got a three-match ban pic.twitter.com/p1ra8e8f6B

— BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) May 5, 2016"

Ander Herrera and Juan Mata will be considered the most likely options in terms of which players could join the likes of Michael Carrick and captain Wayne Rooney in the Red Devils midfield.

United will travel to face Norwich City and fellow top-four hopefuls West Ham United before ending their league season with a home visit from Bournemouth. Metro's Chris Winterburn said the English giants may well miss his towering presence:

As things stand, Van Gaal's men are just one point above the Hammers, each having played 35 games, while they sit four points behind fourth-place rivals Manchester City, who have only two games left to play.

United are aching to make their UEFA Champions League return next season, but the loss of another squad figure is only likely to damage their chances of rejoining the continental elite.