LONDON: The Football Association has banned Manchester United’s Jonny Evans for six games and Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse for seven matches for spitting.

Defender Evans, 27, had denied the charge which related to an incident with striker Cisse in Manchester United’s 1-0 win on Wednesday.

Cisse, 29, is suspended for an extra game because he had been suspended in December for elbowing Everton’s Seamus Coleman.

There is no right of appeal and the bans will take immediate effect.

As a result, Northern Ireland international Evans will miss Monday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal.

“Mr Evans denied the charge but it was found proven,” said an FA statement.

The flashpoint between the two was not seen by referee Anthony Taylor or his assistants, but was caught on video.

A three-man panel of former referees reviewed the footage on Thursday and agreed the players should have been sent off, prompting the FA to bring a charge.

Evans’ statement on Thursday said: “I would like to make it clear that I did not spit at Papiss Cisse. Having woken up this morning, I am shocked to have seen the media coverage from last night’s match.”

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