• Premier League

Cisse accepts FA charge for spitting incident with Evans

Papiss Cisse and Jonny Evans have both been hit with a FA charge for allegedly spitting at each other, with the Newcastle striker set to serve a seven-match ban after accepting his sanction.

Cisse and Manchester United defender Evans were 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.

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

Newcastle will be without Cisse for the upcoming fixtures against Everton and Arsenal, as well as the derby clash at Sunderland on April 5. The forward will then miss games against Liverpool, Tottenham, Swansea and Leicester.

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."

Earlier on Thursday, the FA released a statement confirming both players had been charged for their part in the incident, which marred United's 1-0 victory at St James' Park.

It 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 pm 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.

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 quarter-final 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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