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Mile Jedinak charged by FA after clash with Diafra Sakho

Mile Jedinak elbow on Diafra Sakho
Image: Mile Jedinak clashes with Diafra Sakho

Crystal Palace midfielder Mile Jedinak has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association after an alleged elbow on Diafra Sakho.

The Australia international is in the dock following the incident during the second half of Palace's 3-1 win at Upton Park on Saturday.

The 88th-minute clash was not seen by the match officials but was caught on video, allowing the FA to take retrospective action. Jedinak has until 6pm on Tuesday to respond to the charge.

An FA statement read: "Off the ball incidents in Premier League matches which are not seen at the time by the match officials are referred to a panel of three former elite referees.

"Each panel member will review the video footage independently of one another to determine whether they consider it a sending-off offence. For retrospective action to be taken, the decision by the panel must be unanimous."

Jedinak will be banned for four games if the case is proven as it will be his second red card offence of the season.

Palace boss Alan Pardew, speaking ahead of Tuesday’s game at Southampton, defended his player and said he would have been surprised if he was charged.

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He said: “I have seen it (the incident). I have seen it immediately after the game because it was highlighted to me by the press.

“I have seen worse incidents where nothing has happened so I’ll be surprised if something happens with this, but the media, as they are, have highlighted it and we will have to see where it goes.”

Pardew also admitted he is concerned about the current trend of players being tried by media.

“Yes I think it’s a problem and I think the FA need to be very careful of it,” he said.

"We had an incident with (West Brom defender) Craig Dawson on (Palace keeper) Julian Speroni earlier in the season - it was far worse than this incident and nothing was done.

“It is about where are the guidelines and what are we doing? In retrospect it is very, very difficult anyway and I think the FA has a tough job as well.

“It’s difficult, where do you draw the line? Does the referee ref it and see what he has seen, but retrospective on sending offs and diving? All of this is in the agenda, of course, and we need to have some clear guidelines.”

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