It is understood a heated debate continued in the tunnel at the break, although caretaker Newcastle boss Chris Hughton was quick to defend his player.
Chris Hughton: "Anybody who has seen the incident again will have seen where he actually made contact, and he made contact on the top of his shoulder and his neck.
"I have had the opportunity to see it again and I am quite sure if anybody here has, they would agree.
"Yes, I do (think we will survive).
"It's vital that we put on that type of performance right through to the end of the season.
"I was delighted with the performance.
"In the form that Manchester United are in, to be able in a lot of periods of the game to take the game to them, take the lead and go very close to getting a second speaks volumes for this group of players."