The Rational Ref | Coddled footballers need to own actions
Players' denials in the face of clear video evidence is reprehensible and should stop
Spitting is an unsavoury act, and, by his actions, Manchester United's Jonny Evans has revealed an equally unsavoury side to his character.
The Red Devils centre back denied a charge of spitting at Newcastle United's Papiss Cisse this month and, after the FA found him guilty as charged, immediately maintained his innocence.
The FA, having considered the video evidence and accepted the supporting arguments, explained the deliberations of its independent three-member panel.
Players like this are never helped by being mollycoddled and indulged by their inner circle
An FA statement said: "It is clear that Mr Evans is looking directly and indeed aggressively at Mr Cisse [of Newcastle United]. His lips are 'pursed' and he is close to Mr Cisse. Mr Evans had (and has) a duty of care, if spitting for whatever reason, not to direct the same in the general direction of an opponent, or indeed anyone else. The video clips clearly show that he failed in his duty of care."
Cisse did not attempt to deny his retaliatory spitting offence, and subsequently received the standard six-match suspension, which was increased to seven due to an earlier red card this season. Evans, for his part, also received a six-match ban, which others argue should have been extended or included a significant monetary fine since Evans initially denied the charge.
"I did not have the intent to spit at an opponent, so when the FA charged me with that I could never accept it. 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," said Evans.
Evans' stubborn, unrepentant attitude reveals a lot about his character and values in a soccer world of fast money and false idolisation.
