Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse has been charged with violent conduct by the FA following an incident during the Magpies’ 3-2 win over Everton on Sunday.
The incident involving Everton defender Seamus Coleman passed unnoticed by the match officials but was later reviewed on match footage by the video review panel.
Everton boss Roberto Martinez said the Senegalese was lucky to have escaped sending off for what he said was a pre-meditated elbow on Coleman.
The FA statement on Monday eveningsaid: “The charge carries a three game suspension. The player has until 18:00 GMT on Tuesday 30 December to respond to the charge.”
Cisses, 29, has scored nine times this season and has been named in Senegal’s squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Equatorial Guinea.