Manchester United striker Robin van Persie to escape punishment over 'elbow' on Yohan Cabaye

RVP is accused of elbowing Cabaye (GETTY IMAGES)

Robin van Persie will not be charged following yesterday's incident with Yohan Cabaye.

The Manchester United striker was accused of elbowing the Newcastle midfielder in the face during his side's 3-0 win at St James' Park.

But it is now understood the the Dutchman will not be punished retrospectively.

The Newcastle manager Alan Pardew called for action to be taken after Cabaye was left holding his face in the 84th minute after the pair clashed off the ball.

"He's looked at Yohan and he's elbowed him," said Pardew. "That needs to be looked at. There was a bit of history last year [when Newcastle lost at Arsenal]. I don't know if Robin's got caught up in that. There was a bit of unsavouriness in the game. I actually thought Yohan wouldn't have gone down if he hadn't done something.

"I didn't see it myself but I have looked at it on the replay and it looks like he's looked at him and then put his elbow there. That is for them to look at [the FA], not me."

The rules stipulate that retrospective action can only be taken if the referee did not see the incident, which appeared the case during the match as Webb conversed with a complaining Cabaye.

Had Webb reviewed the incident and decided had he seen it during the match he would of sent off Van Persie, the Dutchman could have faced a three-game ban for violent conduct.

The 'bit of history' Pardew referred to came when Newcastle lost to Arsenal through an injury-time goal at the Emirates back in March, when Van Persie had to be dragged apart from fellow Dutchman Tim Krul after the game had finished. On this occasion, there were words exchanged between Cabaye and Van Persie before the French international went down holding his face.

No action will be taken either in regard to Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tiote, who appeared to stamp on Tom Cleverley's leg, or to Stoke defender Robert Huth, who was involved in a similar incident with Liverpool forward Luis Suarez.

In both cases, the incidents were seen by officials at the time and therefore no further action can be taken.