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Jonny Evans and Papiss Cisse banned by FA after spitting at each other

The Football Association has announced Jonny Evans will serve a six-match ban and Papiss Cisse a seven-match ban after being found guilty of spitting at each other.

The incident occurred during Wednesday night's 1-0 Premier League win for Manchester United over Newcastle United at St James' Park.

United defender Evans denied he spat at the Newcastle striker, pleading not guilty to the FA, although Cisse accepted the charge and offered an apology.

Evans will now serve a six-match ban, starting with Monday's FA Cup quarterfinal with Arsenal, while Cisse is suspended for seven matches having already been punished for violent conduct this season.

The FA said in a statement: "Both players were charged in relation to an alleged breach of FA Rule E1[a] in that in or around the 38th minute of the fixture they spat at each other.

"Mr Cisse accepted the charge and his suspension consists of six matches, which is the standard penalty for this offence, with an additional one match as he has previously accepted a violent conduct charge this season.

"Mr Evans denied the charge but it was found proven following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Friday [6 March], resulting in a six-match suspension.

"The incidents were not seen by the match officials but caught on video."