Manchester United's Jonny Evans clashes with Newcastle's Papiss Cisse. Reuters
Manchester United's Jonny Evans clashes with Newcastle's Papiss Cisse. Reuters

Manchester United and Newcastle players banned for spitting



Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse and Manchester United defender Jonny Evans have been banned for seven and six matches respectively for spitting at each other, the English Football Association announced on Saturday.

The punishments follow an unsavoury incident that occurred between the pair during the first half of United’s 1-0 win over Newcastle United at St James’ Park in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Cisse accepted his charge on Thursday, but Evans contested his charge and his case was heard on Friday. Cisse has been hit with a longer ban due to a previous suspension this season for elbowing Everton’s Seamus Coleman.

“Both players were charged in relation to an alleged breach of FA Rule E1 [a] in that in or around the 38th minute of the fixture they spat at each other,” the FA said in a statement on its website.

“Mr Cisse accepted the charge and his suspension consists of six matches, which is the standard penalty for this offence, with an additional one match as he has previously accepted a violent conduct charge this season.

“Mr Evans denied the charge but it was found proven following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Friday, resulting in a six-match suspension.”

Both bans begin with immediate effect.

The incident occurred following a tangle between the players near the halfway line, with Evans seeming to spit towards the ground and Cisse appearing to react by spitting at the United defender’s neck.

Referee Anthony Taylor did not take action against either player, but footage of the incident was reviewed by a three-man panel of former elite referees, who all agreed that both players should have been sent off.

In a statement, Northern Ireland international Evans categorically denied the charge, saying: “I did not spit at Papiss Cisse.” His claim was supported by United manager Louis van Gaal.

But Senegal striker Cisse accepted his punishment and issued a public apology for his behaviour.

Evans will miss United’s FA Cup quarter-final at home to Arsenal on Monday, as well as league games against Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Manchester City, plus either an FA Cup semi-final, if United qualify, or a league game against Chelsea.

Cisse, meanwhile, must sit out Newcastle’s league fixtures against Everton, Arsenal, Sunderland, Liverpool, Tottenham, Swansea City and Leicester City. He will not be eligible to return to action until May 9.

What is Folia?

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.

Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."

Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.

In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love". 

There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.

While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."

Generation Start-up: Awok company profile

Started: 2013

Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev

Sector: e-commerce

Size: 600 plus

Stage: still in talks with VCs

Principal Investors: self-financed by founder

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League final:

Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The biog

Born November 11, 1948
Education: BA, English Language and Literature, Cairo University
Family: Four brothers, seven sisters, two daughters, 42 and 39, two sons, 43 and 35, and 15 grandchildren
Hobbies: Reading and traveling