Bastian Schweinsteiger could face three-match ban for elbow on Winston Reid in Manchester United draw with West Ham

Schweinsteiger was seen on television footage hitting Reid in the face during the 0-0 draw on Saturday

Winston Reid and Bastian Schweinsteiger clash during the 0-0 draw between Manchester United and West Ham (Getty Images)

Bastian Schweinsteiger could face a three-match ban after being involved in an altercation with West Ham defender Winston Reid during Manchester United’s goalless draw on Saturday at Old Trafford.

The Germany international was seen looking at Reid in the build-up to a United free-kick, before appearing to thrust his forearm into the throat of the New Zealander.

Referee Mark Clattenburg missed he incident as well as his assistants, but the Football Association could choose to take retrospective action against the World Cup winner given that the incident was picked up by television cameras.

Reid accused the 31-year-old United midfielder of deliberately hitting him with an elbow, while he was supported by his manager, Slaven Bilic, in accusing Schweinsteiger of wrongdoing.

“He knows what he’s done — he’s elbowed me in the face,” Reid said afterwards.

Bilic added: “It’s a clear red card. A straight red without any doubts.”

The FA will contact Clattenburg to confirm that he did not see the incident regarding Schweinsteiger and Reid, although it’s believed that they will not ask about an alleged stamp by Schweinsteiger’s team-mate Marouane Fellaini on James Tomkins because the incident was included in Clattenburg’s report.

Should action be taken against Schweinsteiger, a three-man panel of former referees will examine the video evidence to determine if the ex-Bayern Munich star deserved a red card, and if they unanimously agree that it did he will serve a ban likely to be for three matches.

That will rule Schweinsteiger out of the Premier League matches with Bournemouth, Norwich and Stoke, although he will not be prevented from playing in the Champions League decider with Wolfsburg on Tuesday as the ban would not have an effect on European games.