Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has insisted he did not intend to spit at Newcastle United forward Papiss Cisse in a recent tie, claiming spitting is for “idiots”.
The 27-year-old was handed a six-match ban after TV replays appeared to show the Northern Irish international spitting at the striker – who also received a ban for his reaction.
Evans initially denied the charges, but the Football Association decided the suspension was acceptable, with Senegalese international Cisse received a lengthier seven game ban after a clear retaliation, having previously been suspended for violent conduct earlier in the season.
"I did not have the intent to spit at an opponent, so when the FA charged me with that I could never accept it," Evans said shortly after the incident. "To spit at anyone is one of the most disgusting things you can do; it's low and cheap. I would never think to spit at someone. You just look like an idiot.
"So I can totally understand there is an image around that, and in the British game and our society it's not something that is accepted, and rightly so. But I was able to go home and look my mum and dad in the eye because if I'd genuinely spat at someone I think they would have been disgusted in me.
"It's not the background I come from in Northern Ireland. My mum and dad would have given me a rollicking if I had done that."
While remaining true to his suggestion he did not spit at another player, Evans has admitted that he is a ‘habitual’ spitter in general, having been criticised by his wife Helen regularly while attempting to cut the habit out of his game – which he puts down to nerves.
He added: "In training this week I turned to spit and thought, 'No, I can't spit' and tried to stop myself. So that's something I'm trying to work on."
Evans currently has four games remaining on his ban, and will miss league fixtures against Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Chelsea.