article_snippet: Footballers, athletes in all sorts of sports, have a tendency to spit in the periods of respite after action.
article_snippet: 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.
article_snippet: and I spoke about any spitting incident
article_snippet: and it is clear by my reaction in the television footage that I was totally surprised by any suggestion of spitting.
article_snippet: 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.