Cesc Fabregas is in the clear over Hull 'spitting' row

James Olley
22 May 2009

Cesc Fabregas will not face punishment over the spitting row with Hull after the Football Association cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Officials are understood to have had insufficient evidence to pursue a case against the Arsenal captain, who was charged on two counts of improper conduct. The 22-year-old was accused of spitting at assistant manager Brian Horton and aggressive behaviour after the final whistle of the Gunners' FA Cup quarter-final victory in March.

Fabregas declined to attend a personal hearing earlier this week and the FA's disciplinary committee decided he has no case to answer.

Manager Arsene Wenger has always vociferously defended the Spaniard against the claims.

Upon hearing of the original charges on 24 April, Wenger said: "I always said we are very open to co-operate with any investigation.

"I personally looked at the reports, at the video evidence and there is nothing in there against Cesc. I am very positive that there was enough evidence in what I have seen that the case should have been dropped."

The FA have privately expressed scepticism over Fabregas being found guilty, given the lack of CCTV footage in the tunnel area where the incident was said to have taken place.

Fabregas has always denied spitting at Horton, saying: "I have never done this [spit] in my whole career, so why would I when I am not even playing?"

Hull manager Phil Brown is likely to be incensed, especially given that the only disciplinary action now likely is a probable fine for his post-match comments about referee Mike Riley.

After the Gunners edged a tight match 2-1 thanks to a late - and possibly offside - winning goal, Brown said: "We've not been beaten by Arsenal, we've been beaten by the referee and the linesman.

"The game was turned on its head when the referee succumbed to local pressure. You'd better ask Mike Riley how much that will cost us. I'm sure he wouldn't have the faintest idea."

The FA are expected to announce Brown's fate after their crucial match against champions Manchester United on Sunday, when they will be relegated from the Premier League if fellow strugglers Newcastle get a better result at Aston Villa.

For Arsenal's part, Wenger claims he has already told non-playing members of the squad to stay off the pitch in future in order to minimise any possible confrontation in the future.

Emmanual Adebayor looks to have played his last game for the club after it was confirmed he will miss Sunday's match with a groin strain.

Italian keeper Vito Mannone could make his debut as Lukasz Fabianski is rated 50-50 with a knee injury.