Use of elbows

[fanbase]

In a game there is a coming together of 2 players. The assistant flags for a foul and indicates the use of an elbow. The referee's decision after awarding a free-kick.............................................................a chat with the player telling him not to do it again.
Can anybody explain this please? There were 2 other referees watching and neither could explain.

[milkeybarkid]

it entirely depends on the severety of the offence - personally if someone purposfully struck an opponent with his elbow I would send off. but it must be in a shocker of an elbow. But the you can push away with most parts of the body including the elbow, so may have been a free kick for pushing? was not there so could not see it. case by case basis i guess!!!