Brighton goal hero Tomer Hemed facing three-game ban for alleged stamp on Newcastle man DeAndre Yedlin
Israel striker scored the Seagulls' 51st-minute winner in the 1-0 win but was caught up in an ugly incident late on
BRIGHTON goal hero Tomer Hemed could face a three-match ban after appearing to stamp on DeAndre Yedlin.
The Israel striker, 30, scored the Seagulls' 51st-minute winner in yesterday’s 1-0 win over Newcastle.
But Hemed could be in hot water after replays showed him standing on Yedlin a minute before full-time.
The incident was missed by referee Andre Marriner and the Brighton forward insists there was no intent.
Yet Newcastle full-back Yedlin, who clashed with Hemed earlier in the match, admitted: “I felt something on my calf. I didn’t see anything. I was on the ground.
“Whether it was accidental or not, it doesn’t really matter now.
“But I’m sure whoever is on the committee that punishes that sort of thing will figure it out.”
The FA are sure to look at the incident and Hemed will be hit with a retrospective three-game suspension if they deem it deliberate.
Sky Sports pundit and ex-Newcastle boss Graeme Souness said: "I think that might come back to bite him."
But Hemed insisted: “It was by accident. I didn't try to do anything.
"If I hurt him then I'm sorry.”
On his earlier row with Yedlin following an aerial collision, he added: “I just told him that if he cannot jump for the ball, why did he push me?
“You can try to take the ball but don't push me.”
Chris Hughton also defended Hemed, who has now netted in his last two home matches but could miss games with Arsenal, Everton and West Ham if found guilty of stamping.
The Seagulls manager admitted: “I was unaware of it at the time but I have been shown it.
“My absolute impression was that there was no intention, particularly knowing the player as I do.
“All I can do is give my opinion and my opinion is certainly no intent.”
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez refused to be drawn on the incident, even though he had Jonjo Shelvey sent off for a stamp in the opening-day defeat to Tottenham.
The Spaniard also saw Aleksandar Mitrovic hit with a retrospective three-match ban for an elbow on Manuel Lanzini in last month’s win over West Ham.
But asked if he was aware of Hemed’s stamp, Benitez replied: “No. I didn’t see this game as a tough game with a lot of bad tackles.
“I saw fouls and some things, but nothing especially.”