Jonny Evans starts a six-match ban for spitting on Monday night even though the Manchester United defender continues to protest his innocence . Evans would have played in Monday evening ’ s FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal but he will also miss the semi-final in April should United win . A disciplinary panel ruled that Evans and Newcastle rival Papiss Cisse had spat at each other in an incident missed by referee Anthony Taylor . Jonny Evans appears to launch spit in the direction of the Newcastle United striker , who then retaliates . Evans and Papiss Cisse clash near the half-way line at St James ' Park following the unpleasant exchange . Manchester United defender Evans received a six-match ban from the FA after the ugly incident . Tempers threatened to boil over as team-mates from Newcastle and United gathered following the incident . Arsenal ( h ) Monday night , FA Cup* ; . Tottenham ( h ) March 15 . Liverpool ( a ) March 22 . Aston Villa ( h ) April 4 . Man City ( h ) April 12 . Chelsea ( a ) April 18 ( *Possible replay or FA Cup semi-final could mean he is available for the Chelsea game ) Cisse admitted the offence and apologised but Evans insisted he had not done anything wrong . The FA disagreed and , in a statement , said : ‘ Mr Evans denied the charge but it was found proven. ’ The incident , during United ’ s 1-0 win at St James ’ Park on Wednesday , was not seen by referee Taylor or his assistants , but was caught on TV . A three-man panel of former referees reviewed the footage last Thursday and agreed the players should have been sent off , prompting the FA to bring a charge . An independent regulatory commission heard the charge and decided both players should be banned . Cisse , 29 , pleaded guilty and issued an apology for his part in the incident . He was suspended for an extra game as he was banned in December for elbowing Everton ’ s Seamus Coleman . By contrast , Evans , 27 , had denied the charge on Thursday , saying : ‘ I would like to make it clear that I did not spit at Papiss Cisse. ’ There is no right of appeal so Evans will not be able to contest the decision by the three-man panel .
Jonny Evans starts a six - match ban for spitting on Monday night . he would have played in the FA Cup semi - final against Arsenal . But he will also miss the semi - final in order should United win . A disciplinary tribunal ruled that Evans and Newcastle rival derby players had spat at each other in an incident witnessed by rod Anthony Taylor .