Football News: Bastian Schweinsteiger to appeal FA violent conduct charge as Man United midfielder faces three-match ban

Flashpoint: Schweinsteiger clashed with Winston Reid at the weekend
The 31-year-old former Bayern Munich star insists there was no malicious intent on his part and will protest his innocence

Bastian Schweinsteiger will contest his FA charge of violent conduct and impending three-match ban, writes David McDonnell in Wolfsburg .

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The Manchester United midfielder was charged on Monday following his clash with West Ham's Winston Reid in last Saturday's 0-0.draw at Old Trafford.

Germany captain Schweinsteiger appeared to smash his left forearm into Reid's throat as the pair tussled on the edge of the West Ham penalty area.

Ref Mark Clattenburg missed the incident, but the FA studied video footage of it and informed United of their decision to take retrospective action against Schweinsteiger.


BBC/Match of the DayUnder scrutiny: Schweinsteiger's clash with Winston Reid

REUTERSBack in training: Schweinsteiger prepares for tonight's clash - and will appeal his FA charge

The 31-year-old former Bayern Munich star, who joined United in the summer, insists there was no malicious intent on his part and will protest his innocence.

Schweinsteiger, who has until noon on Thursday to respond to the charge, will start for United in tonight's must-win Champions League tie against Wolfsburg in Germany.

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The midfielder's appeal will be lodged by United and heard by a three-man independent panel including a former player who will decide whether he should serve a three-match ban.

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