Huth pleads guilty to FA charge

Huth (left) appeared to strike Upson in the face on Saturday

Stoke City defender Robert Huth has accepted a Football Association charge of violent conduct and apologised to West Ham defender Matthew Upson.

Huth, 25, appeared to lash out at Upson during Saturday's game and was charged on Monday by the FA.

"Stoke and Robert Huth accept the FA charge of violent conduct and would like to apologise for the incident at on Saturday," said a club statement.

Upson, 30, left the pitch with blood streaming from the wound near his eye.

The incident occurred as the players waited for a free-kick to be taken.

He had earlier been caught in the face by a stray Ryan Shawcross boot.

"All players were briefed at the beginning of the season about obstructing opponents at set-plays," added the statement.

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"Robert reacted in frustration at being impeded by Matthew Upson for the second time in the game, stopping him from marking James Tomkins at set-pieces as instructed.

"Robert's actions are totally out of character for a fully committed defender who has only received one red card - for two cautions - in nearly eight years of playing in the Premier League."

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola said after seeing the incident on television he felt Huth, who was signed from Middlesbrough for £5m in August, should have been sent off.

He said: "Looking at the video after the match obviously it was a sending off. I can only assume the referee didn't see it.

"I haven't spoken to the referee about it. I don't think I need to talk to him. It is down to the authorities to decide (whether further action is required) - it won't change the story for me."

Upson needed stitches following the clash with Huth, while Stoke went on to win 2-1, ending a run of four matches without a win.

Huth and Stoke are now awaiting his punishment - likely to be a three-match ban - from the FA.