Marouane Fellaini given three-match ban following headbutt on Stoke's Ryan Shawcross Fellaini's absence will be sorely felt by Everton after an inspirational first half of the season. The Belgium international has scored eight goals and been the driving force of a team currently fifth in the table and pushing for a Champions League place. The FA's statement read: "The FA has charged Everton's Marouane Fellaini retrospectively with violent conduct following his side's game at Stoke City on Saturday 15 December, 2012. The charge is in relation to an incident in the 59th minute involving Fellaini and Stoke City's Ryan Shawcross, which was not seen by the match officials, but caught on video. The referee confirmed that he saw two further incidents in the 71st and 91st minutes, also involving Fellaini and Shawcross, neither of which he deemed to be violent conduct. A report on Everton's website confirmed that the Merseyside club would accept the charge. Fellaini issued a statement after the game apologising for his actions. There was a lot of pushing and pulling going on inside the Stoke penalty area and I didn't feel I was getting any protection from the officials. Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers Association, gave credit Fellaini for his apology and to Moyes, who said he expected punishment. Taylor said: "It is good to see the lad has apologised for his actions. It is disappointing, he has had a great season and obviously it is an aberration. It was refreshing to hear the manager accept what he did was wrong and for the player to apologise. He's prepared to accept what comes his way.