05.03.2015 16:14 h

I didn't spit at Cisse, says United's Evans

Manchester United centre-back Jonny Evans released a statement on Thursday rejecting allegations that he spat at Newcastle United's Papiss Cisse during his side's Premier League win at St James' Park.

"Having woken up this morning I am shocked to have seen the media coverage from last night's match," Evans said in the statement on the United website. "I would like to make it clear that I did not spit at Papiss Cisse."

The incident occurred during the first half of Wednesday's Premier League match in Newcastle and followed a tangle between the players near the halfway line.

As the pair climbed to their feet, Evans seemed to spit towards the ground and Cisse appeared to react by spitting at the United defender's neck.

Referee Anthony Taylor spoke to both players after the incident, but did not book either of them. The Football Association has said it will wait for Taylor's report before deciding whether to take action.

The two players could each face six-game bans if found guilty of spitting under new disciplinary guidelines brought in by the FA this season.

Evans added: "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."

Both managers were reluctant to discuss what had happened after the game, which saw United prevail 1-0 courtesy of an 89th-minute Ashley Young strike.

"I can't comment on it," said Newcastle manager John Carver. I just know there was a fracas on the halfway line."

United manager Louis van Gaal said: "I don't think Jonny Evans is a spitter. Maybe spitting on the floor, but we were on the bench and you cannot see from there."