• FA will not refer video to new disciplinary panel
• Striker to serve original one-match ban
Fernando Torres has escaped further action over the 'scratching clash' with Tottenham Hotspur's Jan Vertonghen at the weekend.
The Chelsea striker could have been banned for up to four matches should the Football Association have decided to refer the video of the coming together with Vertonghen to its new independent disciplinary panel.
The Spanish striker was sent off in the 1-1 draw with Spurs on Saturday, but that was after he picked up two yellow cards, and he will already serve a one-match ban for that.
The FA released a statement on Tuesday which said: "One of the match officials saw the coming together of the two players, albeit not in its entirety.
"In these particular circumstances, in line with The FA's policy on when retrospective action may be taken, reviewed this summer by the game's stakeholders [the Premier League, the Football League, the Professional Footballers' Association, the League Managers' Association, Professional Game Match Officials Limited and the National Game], no action may be taken."
Torres received only a booking for a touchline spat with Vertonghen in the second half when he appeared to claw the defender's face with his nails.
He was eventually sent off after being shown a second yellow card after jumping into a challenge with Vertonghen, a decision which enraged the Chelsea manager, José Mourinho, who denounced the Spurs player as "a disgrace" for "pretending he was hurt and staying on the floor".
Torres will now miss Chelsea's visit to Norwich on Sunday.
via Football: Chelsea | theguardian.com http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/01/fernando-torres-ban-jan-vertonghen
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