FA wait for ref's report on Barton's wild challenge

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Newcastle midfielder Barton went into the tackle with his studs dangerously high and clashed with his opponent in the immediate aftermath but there was no foul awarded as the first half drew to a close.

Flashpoint: Barton and Etuhu clash after the half-time whistle

The FA can issue a violent conduct charge retrospectively in instances where the match official, in this case Martin Atkinson, does not notice the incident but later flags it up in his report.

If that is the case Barton, who missed the start of the season with a broken metatarsal, could be subject to a three-game ban.

An FA spokesman said: "We will be looking to clarify with the referee whether he saw the incident or not. If not we will review the incident."

Reckless: Barton lunges wildly into the midriff of Etuhu

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce defended his player, whom he bought for £5.8 million in June rom City, admitting that his history of offences would always make him a marked man.

"There were a lot of things that went on in the game, but Joey Barton's reputation goes before him so he's the one player who is questioned," said Allardyce. "But it [the tackle] is not good, and he shouldn't do it."

While admitting that the tackle was a bad one, Sunderland manager Roy Keane refused to condemn Barton.

"I am not going to get bogged down by a tackle that was slightly high," he said. "That happens in these games, a lot of them are mistimed. You give and you take. Dickson is a tough lad. He is alive in that dressing room, he won't be leaving on a stretcher."