Black Stars midfielder, Michael Essien has escaped any further disciplinary action following his tackle on Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim.

Referee Rob Styles, after reviewing footage, said he should have given a red card to the Chelsea midfielder.

But Fifa stepped in to prevent retrospective punishment as Styles saw the incident at the time and deemed a yellow card sufficient punishment.

The Football Association consulted Fifa and were told that the decision could not be reversed.

Fifa has previously expressed concern following an incident at the start of the season when a red card that was shown to Jermaine Jenas, then of Newcastle, was subsequently downgraded to a booking.

It insists that if a referee sees an incident at the time he cannot then pass retrospective action at a later date.

Styles agreed to look at the incident again on video, despite being "fairly close" to the tackle, and informed the FA he would have shown a red card had he seen the incident from another angle.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce expressed shock at the original decision.

His side were leading 1-0 at the time that the Ghanaian international clattered into the Israeli, catching him high on his shin.

The Trotters eventually lost 5-1 and Allardyce believes that Essien helped his cause in not seeing red by feigning an injury of his own.