Manchester United star Romelu Lukaku escapes ban for alleged Brighton kick; free to face Arsenal, Manchester City

Tom Doyle27 November 2017

Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku is set to escape any punishment for his alleged kick at Brighton's Gaetan Bong.

Press Association Sport reports that the £75million forward will not face any retrospective action for the incident during United's 1-0 win over Brighton at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Lukaku appeared to twice swing a leg at Bong as the two players came together in the build-up to United's winner after 66 minutes, with Ashley Young converting via a heavy Lewis Dunk deflection after the Seagulls had cleared the initial corner.

Referee Neil Swarbrick took no action against Lukaku at the time and the incident was confirmed to have been missed by officials at Old Trafford.

As a result, a panel of three former elite referees reviewed the footage independently of one another to advise whether they deemed it a sending off offence.

In Pictures | Manchester United vs Brighton | 25/11/2017

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The decision had to be unanimous for a charge to be brought and clearly was not as Lukaku has escaped punishment.

The striker is now free to face Premier League away trips to Watford (November 28) and Arsenal (December 2), along with the Manchester derby against league leaders Man City at Old Trafford on December 10.

Jose Mourinho praised Lukaku's work rate following Saturday's win, saying: "In the last minute he was fighting and running back like he was in the first minute, so I think it is also a mentality question.

"The way Romelu wins the corner for the goal, the way Romelu ends the game making tackles in the left-back position, that is the mentality I want.

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"And, unfortunately, not every player is the same. Players are men, men are different. Men are unique cases.

"Some guys are capable to go into the limits of their efforts and some other guys even with a lot of talent, they don't manage to do that.

"So Romelu, for me, fantastic. Didn't score, I don't care."

Additional reporting by the Press Assoociation.