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Papiss Cisse, Jonny Evans charged by FA over spitting incident

Papiss Cisse and Jonny Evans have both been hit with a Football Association charge for allegedly spitting at each other.

The Newcastle striker and the Manchester United defender have been charged following an incident in Wednesday night's Premier League clash between the clubs at St James' Park which was not seen by the match officials.

Both players face automatic six-match suspensions if they are found guilty of spitting, as a result of new FIFA guidelines. 

An FA statement read: "Newcastle United's Papiss Cisse and Manchester United's Jonny Evans have both been charged by the FA following their game yesterday. 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. The incidents were not seen by the match officials but caught on video. Both players have until 6 p.m. on Friday 6 March 2015 to respond to the charge."

The incident came after Cisse reacted angrily to a challenge by Evans. Match referee Anthony Taylor allowed play to continue and was facing the ball as the two men clashed, with television replays capturing the alleged spitting.

Evans issued a statement on Thursday afternoon denying he spat at Cisse, although Cisse apologised for his actions.

Evans wrote: "Having woken up this morning I am shocked to have seen the media coverage from last night's match. I would like to make it clear that I did not spit at Papiss Cisse.

"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 Cisse 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."

Cisse followed Evans' statment by issuing an apology for his actions in the first-half incident at St James' Park. 

"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 a 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."

Whatever the motivation of either man in speaking out, they both ended up facing possible sanctions with a panel of former referees agreeing unanimously that they should be charged.

Cisse chose to accept the ban rather than appeal. He is likely to be handed an extended suspension after accepting a violent conduct charge for elbowing Everton's Seamus Coleman earlier in the season, again on video evidence.

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."

Before the ruling came down, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said he didn't believe the FA would ban Evans.

Van Gaal told a news conference: "As I've said in [Wednesday's] news conference, Jonny was not aware that he was spitting. It's a natural thing for a human being, it wasn't his intention.

"I cannot imagine that Jonny Evans could do something like that, and he's also said that. I believe him, so the matter is done."

Asked if he feared losing Evans for a long period, which would include Monday's FA Cup quarterfinal against Arsenal as well as Premier League clashes with Tottenham and Liverpool, Van Gaal replied: "I think the FA is very wise."

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