LONDON (AP) — Manchester United defender Jonny Evans and Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse have been given long bans for spitting at each other during a Premier League match.
Evans denied deliberately spitting but was found guilty by an English Football Association disciplinary panel, which handed him a six-game suspension — the standard penalty for the offense — on Saturday.
Cisse had accepted the FA charge for the same offense. He has been suspended for seven matches, as he has already received a ban for violent conduct this season.
The incident occurred following a confrontation between the players during the first half of Wednesday’s game at St. James’ Park, which United won 1-0. It was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.
