Romelu Lukaku faces no action after footage emerged of Manchester United striker seemingly kicking opponent in Premier League clash

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Romelu Lukaku can play for Manchester United at Watford on Tuesday night after escaping punishment from the FA for kicking Brighton defender Gaetan Bong in the groin.

Lukaku was caught on camera sinking his studs into Bong at the second attempt as they wrestled at a corner in the moments before United scored the winning goal at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Referee Neil Swarbrick’s report on Monday morning confirmed that he had not seen the incident, enabling the FA to refer the case to a three-man panel of former match officials – usually Alan Wiley, Steve Dunn and Eddie Wolstenholme.

Romelu Lukaku will face no further action despite being filmed kicking an opponent

Lukaku was caught on camera swinging his boot into Brighton player Gaetan Bong’s groin

Referee Neil Swarbrick’s report on Monday confirmed that he had not seen the incident

For Lukaku to be charged with violent conduct, which carries a three-match ban, all three ex-referees would have needed to say it was a red-card offence.

However, they did not reach a unanimous decision with at least one of them understood to have felt Lukaku’s actions were petulant rather than violent, and more deserving of a yellow card.

United’s £75million striker was undoubtedly helped by the fact that Bong did not make more of the incident as the home team celebrated Ashley Young’s deflected shot looping into the net off Lewis Dunk.

Lukaku was in danger of missing the game against Watford at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night, Saturday’s trip to Arsenal and the Manchester derby on December 10, but is now free to play in all three.

The FA’s decision has caused surprise because the Belgium striker was widely expected to be charged for the off-the-ball incident. There was clear intent on Lukaku’s part and he made considerable contact with his opponent.

The FA panel could not reach a unanimous verdict, meaning Lukaku escapes unpunished

It is the second time in six weeks that the 24-year-old has escaped action after he was accused of kicking Dejan Lovren in the face during United’s goalless draw at Liverpool last month.

On that occasion, the FA did not even refer it to the three-man panel because they were satisfied it was not a clear act of violent conduct.

Some would argue that the latest incident involving Lukaku certainly was, with Bong fortunate not to be more seriously hurt.

Manchester City will be more interested than most after Lukaku was cleared to play in the Old Trafford derby in 11 days’ time.

Sergio Aguero missed the corresponding fixture last season – United’s only defeat at home in their last 40 games in all competitions – after he was punished retrospectively for elbowing West Ham’s Winston Reid.

Lukaku could have faced a three game ban, including the Manchester derby on December 10

United boss Jose Mourinho now faces a decision over whether to play Lukaku in the next three games with his top scorer on a run of one goal in the last 10 matches.

The return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic from a serious knee injury has given Mourinho an excellent alternative after the Swedish striker made three appearances off the bench.

United suffered a 3-1 defeat at Vicarage Road in September last year, and a team now in eighth place in the table under Mourinho’s compatriot Marco Silva will not make it easy for them to cut City’s lead at the top.

‘It’s going to be a tough game,’ said Young, who spent 11 years at Watford.

‘He (Silva) is proving a good manager. He has got them scoring goals and winning games, so they are doing well.

‘We know we are away, but we still want to get all the three points.’