FA gives Papiss Cisse and Jonny Evans seven and six-game bans
Saturday 7 March 2015 14:35, UK
The Football Association has handed Newcastle forward Papiss Cisse a seven-match ban, and Manchester United defender Jonny Evans a six-game suspension, for spitting.
The duo have been punished following an altercation between the pair during Wednesday's Premier League fixture at at St James' Park.
Striker Cisse accepted his FA charge on Thursday but defender Evans pleaded not guilty and his case was heard on Friday night.
The duo have now been handed lengthy suspensions, with Cisse's punishment one game higher than the standard tariff for spitting due to a ban for a wayward elbow earlier this season.
Northern Ireland defender Evans is out of Monday night's heavyweight FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal at Old Trafford due to the punishment.
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The centre-half is also set to miss the visits of Tottenham, Aston Villa and Manchester City in the league, as well as trips to Liverpool and Chelsea. The Stamford Bridge fixture could be moved back should United beat the Gunners in their last-eight clash with Evans ruled out of the semi-final.
Senegal striker Cisse is out of top-flight trips to Everton, Sunderland, Liverpool, Swansea and Leicester as well as home games against north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham. He is available for Newcastle's final three games of the season however.
An FA statement read: "Newcastle United’s Papiss Cisse and Manchester United’s Jonny Evans will serve suspensions of seven-matches and six-matches respectively with immediate effect following their game on Wednesday 4 March 2015.
"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 2015), resulting in a six-match suspension.
"The incidents were not seen by the match officials but caught on video."
