The FA are set to decide Jonny Evans ’ s fate today after the Manchester United defender denied allegations of spitting at Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse . A disciplinary hearing was hastily set up last night after Evans confirmed his intention to fight the charge which will carry a six-game ban if he is found guilty . The FA wanted to make sure the matter was dealt with swiftly before the Northern Ireland international played in United ’ s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday night . Jonny Evans has decided to contest the FA charge of spitting on Newcastle forward Papiss Cisse . Evans appears to launch spit in the direction of the Newcastle United striker , who then retaliates . Evans and Cisse clash near the half-way line at St James ' Park following the unpleasant exchange . Arsenal ( h ) , Monday ; Tottenham ( h ) , March 15 ; Liverpool ( a ) , March 22 ; Aston Villa ( h ) , April 4 ; Manchester City ( h ) April 12 ; Chelsea ( a ) April 18 . They tweeted confirmation of Evans ’ s decision on Friday , just over an hour after the 6pm deadline he had been given to respond to the charge . It read : ‘ Manchester United ’ s Jonny Evans denies FA charge in relation to incident involving Papiss Cisse . Independent Regulatory Commission hearing tonight , decision expected tomorrow. ’ It is understood that United will submit video evidence to support Evans ’ s claim that he did not spit directly at Cisse . Both players were charged over the unsavoury incident in United ’ s 1-0 win at St James ’ Park on Wednesday night . Cisse issued a public apology and accepted his guilt , triggering an immediate seven-match ban . The Senegal striker ’ s suspension is one game longer because he had already served a three-match ban earlier this season . Evans was expected to contest the charge after issuing a statement on Thursday denying any knowledge of a spitting incident , which followed a tackle between the two players in the first half . He said : ‘ Having woken up this morning I am shocked to have seen the media coverage from last night ’ s match . I would like to make it clear that I did not spit at Papiss Cisse . ‘ 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 . Cisse has been banned for seven games after accepting the charge from the FA on Thursday . Tempers threaten to boil over as team-mates from Newcastle and United gather on the pitch . Cisse was banned for an extra game after being sent off for elbowing Seamus Coleman in December . ‘ 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. ’ United boss Louis van Gaal also defended his player , insisting that he believed Evans ’ s version of events . Spitting is understandably reviled among the majority of Premier League players , but Stoke striker Jonathan Walters mounted a surprisingly robust objection on Friday by threatening to leave any opponent who targeted him in such a manner ‘ eating through a straw ’ . The FA are unlikely to take any action against Walters but will not welcome any talk of physical violence on the pitch . Walters told talkSPORT : ‘ As a player you take anything off the ball ; pinches and kicks that are meant to wind you up . Little things like that go on in any match . ‘ But spitting is pretty low . If it happened to me and someone spat at my face or towards me then I think he ’ d be eating his supper through a straw that night . I wouldn ’ t be that happy . It ’ s the lowest of the low . ’
Jonny Evans and Papiss Cisse involved in spitting row on Wednesday . Cisse admitted the FA charge and was given a seven-match ban . Evans denied that he spat on the Senegal international . Disciplinary hearing for the defender happening on Friday night . The FA set to announce their decision on Saturday .