Jonny Evans and Papiss Cissé charged by FA over spitting row

Newcastle striker Papiss Cissé and Manchester United defender Jonny Evans have been charged under rule E1 (A) after allegedly spitting at each other in Wednesday’s Premier League match at St James’ Park, the Football Association has announced. Both players have until 6pm on Friday 6 March 2015 to respond to the charge.

The Manchester United defender said he was “shocked” to read reports that he had part at Cissé after Wednesday night’s Premier League game at Newcastle, which the visitors won 1-0. “Having woken up this morning, I am shocked to have seen the media coverage from last night’s match,” he said.

“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.”

Spitting carries a mandatory six-game ban and if Cissé were charged and convicted his punishment would be increased, with the forward having already served a three-match suspension for violent conduct earlier in the season.

Cissé said in a statement on the Newcastle website: “I have apologies to make to a lot of people today. Firstly to my team-mates and to our supporters, secondly to Jonny Evans, and thirdly to every football fan who saw the incident between myself and Jonny. I reacted to something I found very unpleasant. Sometimes it is hard not to react, particularly in the heat of the moment. I have always tried hard to be positive a role model, especially for our young fans, and yesterday I let you down.”

“I hope children out there playing football for their clubs and schools this weekend will know better than to retaliate when they are angry. Perhaps when they see the problem it now causes me and my team they will be able to learn from my mistake, not copy it.”

...TheGuardian