Papiss Cissé and Jonny Evans banned for a combined 13 matches for spitting

Cissé will serve a seven game ban while Evans will miss six matches

Papiss Cisse and Jonny Evans — Cisse and Evans will miss most of the rest of the season after being found guilty. Getty Images

Newcastle United striker Papiss Cissé and Manchester United defender Jonny Evans have been banned for seven and six games respectively after the Football Association confirmed both players have been found guilty of spitting during the Premier League game at St James' Park.

Spitting carries a six-game punishment, but Cissé will serve an extra game after being charged with violent conduct earlier in the campaign, and is now unavailable until May. The Senegal forward misses the games against Everton, Arsenal, Sunderland, Liverpool, Tottenham, Swansea City, and Leicester City.

Evans meanwhile will serve the mandatory six-game ban, ruling him out of United's FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal on 9 March while the Northern Irish defender will also miss the games against Tottenham, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester City.

Should United defeat Arsenal and progress to the last four Evans would miss the semi-final at Wembley, otherwise the 26-year-old could be also be ineligible for the trip to Premier League leaders Chelsea on 18 April.

The United centre-back denied breaching FA rule E1(a) but his ban remains at six matches, while Cissé admitted to the charge and apologised to the player within 24 hours of the incident during the 1-0 loss on 4 March.

"I reacted to something I found very unpleasant," the Newcastle forward said. "Sometimes it is hard not to react, particularly in the heat of the moment. I have always tried hard to be a positive role model, especially for our young fans, and yesterday I let you down.

"I hope children out there playing football for their clubs and schools this weekend will know better than to retaliate when they are angry. Perhaps when they see the problem it now causes me and my team they will be able to learn from my mistake, not copy it."

Evans' initial statement read: "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."

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