Skip to content

Marouane Fellaini elbow on Robert Huth 'natural reaction' to having hair pulled, says Louis van Gaal

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Louis van Gaal insists Marouane Fellaini reacted 'like a human being' after having his hair grabbed

Louis van Gaal insists Marouane Fellaini's elbow on Robert Huth was a "normal reaction" to having his hair pulled.

In the first half of Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Leicester, referee Michael Oliver failed to spot an incident inside the area whereby Huth tugged at Fellaini's hair, before the Belgium international midfielder lashed out with an elbow and then a hand.

Both Fellaini and Huth could receive retrospective bans for the incident, but Van Gaal insists the Leicester defender is more to blame.

Marouane Fellaini started his 12th Premier League game of the season versus Leicester
Image: Fellaini could face retrospective action for the incident

He told Sky Sports: "When you look at what Huth is doing with Fellaini, that's a penalty. Shall I grab your hair? What is your reaction, when I grab your hair? Your hair is much shorter than Fellaini, but when I do that, what are you doing then?

"I think that's a normal reaction. You have to first pick Huth, because he was the guy who grabbed the hair of Fellaini. I think the reaction of Fellaini is like a human being."

Souness: Fellaini won't escape ban
Souness: Fellaini won't escape ban

Graeme Souness had his say on the incident in the first half with Robert Huth

Van Gaal, who has spoken out previously about the need for video technology in football, again reiterated his stance that referees need help.

"It was a very difficult match, nowadays you cannot control it by yourself as a referee. It is so difficult."

Also See:

Claudio Ranieri shakes hands with Louis van Gaal
Image: Claudio Ranieri shakes hands with Van Gaal after the game

Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness, commenting on the incident at half-time, said Fellaini will be lucky to escape without a ban, but believes Huth was also responsible for the tangle.

He said: "This is no surprise. They are both big, strong aggressive men especially in the air.

"There is a bit of a tangle and I tell you what, Huth is lucky as well as Fellaini. I say Huth is lucky because he has caught him under the chin. If that catches him full square across his face, then he's lost several teeth or broke his nose and I don't think he can stay on the pitch.

Report: Man Utd 1-1 Leicester
Report: Man Utd 1-1 Leicester

Leicester must wait to claim the Premier League title after being held to a 1-1 draw by Man Utd

"In that respect, he is lucky, but Fellaini won't escape a ban for that. I just can't see it."

With regards to the game, Van Gaal said the performance was one of United's best of the season, but admits the draw makes it tougher for them to gain a top four spot.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Claudio Ranieri says he will be flying back from Italy on Monday and will not watch Tottenham's crucial game against Chelsea

"We played one of our best matches in the season, and it was not enough," he said.

"We created a lot of chances, we have to score, but we didn't score, and they score out of a set play again. They are very dangerous with that and we know that.

"We could have scored, and it's a pity, because in spite of the draw, the fans were applauding, and that is significant.

"It's tougher when you don't win, of course. But it is all 'if', we don't know. We are still in a race."

Live Ford Football Special

Around Sky