Jonny Evans and Papiss Cissé charged by FA over spitting row

Jonny Evans, left, and Papiss Cissé are separated by the
referee, Anthony Taylor, after the two players accused each
other of spitting during Manchester United's win at
Newcastle. Photograph: Richard Sellers/PA

Papiss Cissé is facing a possible seven-match ban after accepting a
Football Association charge of spitting at Manchester United's Jonny
Evans.

The offence carries an automatic six-game suspension and Cissé's ban is
likely to be extended as the Senegal striker accepted a violent conduct
charge for elbowing Everton's Séamus Coleman in December. Evans, who
has publicly denied spitting at the Newcastle forward, has until 6pm on
Friday to respond.

Wednesday's incident, unseen by match officials but captured by
television cameras, overshadowed the 1-0 win enjoyed by Louis van
Gaal's side. Accordingly, an independent three-man panel of former elite
referees commissioned by the FA spent much of Thursday poring over
video evidence before unanimously agreeing it should have been a double
sending-off and advising the governing body to take retrospective action.

The Newcastle managing director, Lee Charnley, said: "Both ourselves
and Papiss agree that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable. In life,
when you do something wrong you have to front up, admit your mistakes
and accept the punishment. Papiss was proactive this morning in making a
full and heartfelt apology, which he did in advance of any notification
from the FA regarding this charge."

Charnley stated that Cissé would use his period of suspension to do
community work. "Papiss is known to many of our region's schools,
community groups and junior football teams for his involvement in the
work of the Newcastle United Foundation," he said.

"He has expressed to us his strong desire to engage in additional
community activities during his ban. He is particularly keen to use his
position as a role model to encourage young and influential fans to engage
in sport and learn lessons about the importance of fair play and personal
conduct."

In a statement released on Thursday evening, the FA said: "The charges
are in relation to an alleged breach of FA rule E1(a) in that in or around
the 38th minute of the game the two players spat at each other."

Such retrospective action became possible when Anthony Taylor, the
match referee, confirmed in his official report of the game that he had not
spotted the altercation.

Evans expressed astonishment at the furore and denied point-blank that he
had spat at Cissé. "Having woken up this morning, I am shocked to have
seen the media coverage from last night's match," said the United
defender. "I would like to make it clear that I did not spit at Papiss Cissé.

"I was totally unaware of any spitting incident and had assumed that the
issue at the time was with the challenge and his attempted retaliation to
the tackle from the floor.

"During the game, Papiss Cissé and I spoke about the incident and it is
clear by my reaction in the television footage that I was totally surprised
by any suggestion of spitting. It is not in my character or in my nature to
spit at anybody, nor is it something I have ever done or would ever do. It
is certainly not something that I did last night."

Source - theguardian.com