Shearer said: "I am delighted to have cleared my name and can now look forward to Saturday's Cup final and the countdown to the World Cup.

"I am pleased to put the record straight and in doing so clear my name. I was always confident that I would."

The FA panel viewed videos, which are understood to have included previously unseen film of the incident, and heard from Lennon before reaching its decision.

Match referee Martin Bodenham and assistant referee Alan Kaye gave evidence.

An FA statement said: "In reaching its decision the commission accepted that the incident was initially caused by Neil Lennon pulling at the shirt of Alan Shearer turning round and trapping his leg.

"The commission further accepted that the alleged incident of Alan Shearer swinging out with his left leg was a genuine attempt to free himself."

'Good guy vindicated'

Newcastle manager Kenny Dalglish said: "I can't understand why it had to go this far in the first place but it's done now and out of the road totally.

"He can concentrate on the FA Cup final and it proves that the good guy's been vindicated."

Lennon: gave evidence for Shearer

There was disagreement from the start over whether the kick was deliberate.

During the match, the referee took no action, prompting complaints from Leicester City's manager Martin O'Neill. Lennon suffered a cut and bruising to his face.

Shearer apologised later and insisted that he meant no harm.

When the FA launched its inquiry, Glenn Hoddle defended Shearer. "I don't accept Alan would deliberately harm a fellow professional," he said.

Lennon also called for an end to what he saw as a witch-hunt against the captain.

A troubled year

The Lennon incident was the latest in a series of controversies following Shearer's return from injury earlier this year.

Coach Glenn Hoddle backed Shearer throughout

But in February, Leeds' manager George Graham accused him of manhandling striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

In April, Shearer came under fire after Newcastle met Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs' manager Christian Gross said Shearer was responsible for breaking defender Ramon Vega's nose.

The disciplinary committee's verdict was originally worded as `not proven' but was amended to `not guilty' because a `not proven' verdict is normally only permissible under Scottish Law.