YOHAN Cabaye faces trial by television this week. Referee Lee Probert studied the DVD of Newcastle United's FA Cup fourth-round defeat at Brighton on Saturday, having initially failed to see an off-the-ball incident between Cabaye and Adam El-Abd.

If Probert mentions it in his official report due today, the clash can be referred to a disciplinary panel to consider retrospective action.

Television replays showed Cabaye’s studs making contact with the defender’s face after a 64th-minute tackle from behind by El-Abd.

Probert waved play on but El-Abd left the field to stem the flow of blood from his lip. If the panel deem Cabaye’s a deliberate retaliatory stamp, he faces retrospective action.

Seven days ago Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli was banned for four matches for what was interpreted as a deliberate stamp on Scott Parker’s head.

Balotelli received a four-match ban, as Sunderland’s Phil Bardsley did earlier in the campaign for stamping on the chest of Chelsea’s Juan Mata.

Balotelli’s ban would have been three games had it been a first offence, but the Italian was sent off earlier this season.

Cabaye was fortunate to avoid retrospective action for a studs-up challenge into Jay Spearing during December’s 3-1 defeat at Anfield.

El-Abd said: “I have seen it again and I think it was frustration on his part.

“He had a little kick out at me. Cabaye caught me, I am a big boy and I can deal with i, but I think he knew what he was doing.

“The ref said he was going to have a look at it again on the monitor.

“It was pretty clear and the ref could see I had blood on my lip. It did not magic itself on to my lip. It happened because his boot was in my face.

“I think it happened because we were frustrating the life out of them.”