Evans And Cisse Banned For Spitting

Manchester United’s Jonny Evans and Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse have been handed six games and seven games bans respectively for spitting at each other.

Both players received a Football Association charge for a spitting incident which occurred in “the 38th” minute of United’s 1-0 win at Newcastle on Wednesday

Defender Evans, 27 denied the charge, but Cisse, 29, apologised prior to the charge and, as well accepted it for his part in the storm.

Papiss Cisse Appears to Spit at Jonny Evans During a Premier League Match at St. James Park. Image: Getty.
Papiss Cisse Appears to Spit at Jonny Evans During a Premier League Match at St. James Park. Image: Getty.

The Senegalese has been handed an additional one game as he has already been sanctioned this season.

Referee Anthony Taylor and his assistants missed the altercation between the two players, which was caught on video.

A three-man independent panel of ex-referees reviewed the footage on Thursday and agreed the players ought to have been sent off, prompting the FA charge. An independent regulatory commission heard the charge and decided on both players’ suspension.

“Mr. Evans denied the charge but it was found proven,” said an FA statement.

There is no right to appeal and the bans will take immediate effect, meaning the Northern Irish centre-back will miss Monday’s FA Cup sixth round against Arsenal. Evans will as well miss United matches against Tottenham (H), Liverpool (A), Aston Villa (H), Manchester City (H)and Chelsea (A) or a prospective FA Cup semi-final.

Cisse will miss matches against Everton (A), Arsenal (H), Sunderland (A), Liverpool (A), Tottenham (H), Swansea (H) and Leicester (A).