Video: Spitting storm! Jonny Evans and Papiss Cisse caught spitting at each other

Jonny Evans seemed to spit in the direction of Cisse, who responded by doing the same himself

Ashley Young’s 89th-minute goal gave Manchester United a much-needed 1-0 away win against Newcastle United, but Louis van Gaal’s men were far from convincing with their performance. The match was however marred by an ugly altercation between United defender Jonny Evans and Magpies striker Papiss Cisse, where the two appeared to spit at each other.

Television replays show Cisse and Evans entangled in a challenge just before half time. The Northern Irishman seemed to take exception to Cisse leaving his foot in for a bit too long and appeared to spit at the striker, after the two aimed kicks at each other.

Cisse escalated the unsavoury incident by directing his head towards Evans and seemed to retaliate by spitting at the defender himself.

Neither player was booked at the time by the referee, but Newcastle were awarded a free-kick for the initial challenge. Both Evans and Cisse may face retrospective action from the FA if the governing body decides to take up the issue.

Hull City’s George Boyd was given a three-match ban by the FA after a charge of spitting in an incident involving Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart was proven in March 2014.

Cisse retaliating by spitting back at Evans

Former Manchester United great Paul Scholes, who was covering the match as a pundit for BT Sport, slammed Cisse while suggesting Evans wasn’t guilty.

He said, “I think Jonny is spitting on the floor. I know Jonny, he’s not that type of person. If he wants to do that then it’s not hard to miss, is it? He’s only stood a yard away from him. What Cisse does afterwards is unforgivable.”