Manchester United defender Jonny Evans and Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse were involved in a controversial clash at St James Park this evening, when both players appeared to spit at each other.
The incident occurred just before the half time interval during the Premier League clash, with both players initially involved after Evans had tackled the Senegalese striker.
Cisse then appeared to kick out at the United defender, sparking a reaction which saw Evans spit in his direction.
The Newcastle goalscorer then spits back, with the referee getting involved soon after to award a free-kick to the home side.
Replays seemed to substantiate what had happened but Evans has chosen to deny such claims.
“Having woken up this morning I am shocked to have seen the media coverage from last night’s match. I would like to make it clear that I did not spit at Papiss Cisse,” the Northern Ireland regular said on the club’s official website.
“I was totally unaware of any spitting incident and had assumed that the issue at the time was with the challenge and his attempted retaliation to the tackle from the floor,” Evans continued. “During the game Papiss Cisse and I spoke about the incident and it is clear by my reaction in the television footage that I was totally surprised by any suggestion of spitting.
“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.”