article_snippet: (CNN)Manchester United defender Jonny Evans and Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse have been charged by the Football Association for allegedly spitting during an altercation in Wednesday night's Premier League game at St James' Park.
article_snippet: In a statement, English football's governing body said (CNN)Manchester United defender Jonny Evans and Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse had been charged "in relation to an alleged breach of FA Rule E1[a] in that in or around the 38th minute of Wednesday night's Premier League game at St James' Park the two players spat at each other.
article_snippet: (CNN)Manchester United defender Jonny Evans and Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse have until 6pm GMT on Friday to respond to the charge, and could face six-game bans if found guilty.
article_snippet: (CNN)Manchester United defender Jonny Evans and Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse released statements the day after the incident, with Evans saying: "I would like to make it clear that I did not spit at Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse.
article_snippet: Spitting at another player is considered beyond the pale by professional footballers, and former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann, now a TV pundit, told the BBC's Match of the Day programme the incident had been "disgusting."
article_snippet: Ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes said Ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes did not believe Evans had deliberately spat at Cisse, telling BT Sport: "Look, it's not very nice.
article_snippet: And former Liverpool player Steve McManaman told the channel: Cisse Cisse stands up and spits right at Evans neck from about six inches.
article_snippet: If Evans has spat at Evans then it's wrong, but for Cisse to get up and react like that is absolutely disgusting.
highlights_snippet: Evans denied spitting in statement .
  