Callum McManaman will face no further charge for his career-threatening tackle on Massadio Haidara, the Football Association has confirmed.
Haidara was carried off after McManaman's studs-up, knee-high challenge in the first half of Wigan Athletic's victory against Newcastle United.
The FA said: "In the case of McManaman, it has been confirmed that at least one of the match officials saw the coming together, though not the full extent of the challenge. In these circumstances retrospective action cannot be taken."
McManaman executes his horror tackle on Haidara
The manner of the tackle left Newcastle outraged, with injured full-back Ryan Taylor describing it as a "s**thouse tackle" while Alan Pardew said he was more upset at Haidara's injury than the defeat.
Haidara, 20, is thought to have suffered knee ligament damage and will likely be sidelined for the remainder of the season, and he will undergo a further scan next week in order to determine the extent of the damage caused.
The FA's decision not to take action is another blow for the organisation's credibility and the country's referees. Mark Halsey, who "missed" the tackle according to Pardew, follows Martin Atkinson and Howard Webb seeing potential leg-breakers but failing to flourish red cards.
Atkinson only yellow-carded Mario Balotelli for a studs-up lunge on Alexandre Song last year while Webb did not even award Manchester City's Javi Garcia a free-kick when Glenn Whelan executed a two-footed stamp on his leg in January.
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan inexplicably described McManaman's challenge as "clean as a whistle" after coach Roberto Martínez had defended his player.
Whelan's remarks were ridiculed by supporters nationwide
Newcastle issued a statement today condemning Whelan's comments.
Managing director Derek Llambias said: "I am disappointed and surprised by the comments he [Whelan] made yesterday, in particular his assertion that the tackle by Callum McManaman "was a fair challenge".
"It is our strongly held opinion that the tackle on Massadio was extremely dangerous and is the type of challenge that has the potential to cause serious harm and such was the force, and reckless and dangerous nature of the challenge, even end a player's career.
"It was not a fair challenge. This view is shared by countless former players, referees and well-respected media commentators. Indeed it appears to be only Dave Whelan who takes a contrary view."
Llambias' statement went on to criticise the FA, revealing Newcastle had learned McManaman would not face retrospective action through a media source.
"We were first notified of this decision by a national media outlet who received notification from the FA confirming the decision. This was prior to anyone from the FA having the courtesy to contact the Club to let us know."
"It is clear from this decision that the current disciplinary procedures are not fit for purpose. Newcastle United, along with other clubs, have had players suspended for incidents reviewed after the game. Whilst not trivialising these incidents, they were not, in our opinion, of the seriousness of Callum McManaman's tackle on Haidara."
"Whilst we understand that the current procedures give the FA limited options, it cannot be correct that the most serious offences - those which have the potential to cause another player serious harm - can go unpunished, even if the original incident was seen by match officials."
"We will now be making a strong representation to the FA and the Premier League to see how a more appropriate, fair and even-handed disciplinary process can be introduced at the earliest opportunity to prevent incidents of this nature going unpunished in the future."