FA charge Jonny Evans and Papiss Cisse after spit claims

The Football Association said the incidents, unseen by match officials, had been caught on video and reviewed by a three-man panel of former elite referees who agreed unanimously that both should have been sent off.

Both players were given until Friday evening to respond and face heavy punishments.

While Cisse has already apologised for his behaviour, Northern Ireland international Evans issued a statement on Thursday denying wrongdoing.

"I have apologies to make to a lot of people today," Cisse, who appeared to spit towards Evans in response to the United player apparently spitting in his direction, told the Newcastle website (nufc.co.uk).

"Firstly to my team mates and to our supporters, secondly to Jonny Evans, and thirdly to every football fan who saw the incident between myself and Jonny.

"I reacted to something I found very unpleasant. 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."

Cisse's statement was in marked contrast to the one put out by Evans, whose side won the match 1-0.

"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," he said.

"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.

"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."

Both managers, United's Louis van Gaal and Newcastle's John Carver, said they had not seen the incident which did not result in either player being cautioned at the time.

Senegal's Cisse said he expected the incident to cause himself and the club "problems".

"I hope children out there playing football for their clubs and schools this weekend will know better than to retaliate when they are angry," he said.

"Perhaps when they see the problem it now causes me and my team they will be able to learn from my mistake."