Football
Arindam Rej, Man United Correspondent 8y

Man United's Marouane Fellaini had hair grabbed by Robert Huth - LVG

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal defended midfielder Marouane Fellaini after the Belgian threw an arm at Robert Huth in the 1-1 draw against Leicester City, accusing the German of having grabbed his player's hair beforehand.

In one postmatch interview, Van Gaal held a reporter's hair to make the point, asking him how he would like it, and made a similar point in his postmatch news conference.

Fellaini is facing a Football Association ban, but Van Gaal believes Huth should also be punished if that is the case because of the provocation.

The Dutchman said: "It's a penalty for us. When you grab somebody by his hair and are tying him backwards, then it is a penalty.

"[If Fellaini is banned] then I expect, first, that Huth shall be getting a lot. I don't think that is normal. What Fellaini is doing is reacting like a human being."

The Dutchman added on the BBC: "Only in sex masochism. Then it is allowed."

There was controversy surrounding referee Michael Oliver, who sent off Leicester's Danny Drinkwater for hauling down Memphis Depay on the edge of the penalty area late on but did not give a penalty.

That led to Van Gaal again calling for video technology, saying: "I have said already it is difficult for the referee. We need the video referee. Even when we see Memphis and Drinkwater on video, to see if it is in or out [of the area] is very difficult."

#INSERT type:image caption:Marouane Fellaini is facing a ban for his actions in Sunday's match. END#

The result against Leicester damaged United's hopes of a top-four finish and also meant Claudio Ranieri's team will have to wait to be crowned champions. Leicester would have won the title if they had triumphed at Old Trafford.

Van Gaal said: "I have said to my players that I have seen one of the best matches of the season. It was not enough, though. You have to score when you are so attacking and creating chances, in the first half and the second half.

"We conceded again a set-play goal, and that is a pity again. The first goal was a fantastic goal, but it was 1-1 after that.

"I had said that we had to win every game and already we are not closing the gap and we are depending on City because Arsenal has won. That's a big gap. Mathematically you can do it but it shall be very difficult."

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