There are worse offences around than spitting

IF I was still playing, I’d much prefer to be hit by a gob of spit than by a leg-breaking tackle.

And I’d far rather wipe off a fleck of saliva than pick up an unjust red card for a challenge a cheating opponent dived over.

That all sounds like I’m comfortable with the idea of one player spitting on another.

I can assure you, that’s not the case.

The incident between Papiss Cisse and Jonny Evans in midweek was disgusting and vile.

But when players who dive and players who launch themselves into dreadful challenges are getting off with far less than seven-game bans, I just can’t accept that spitting needs to be handled so harshly.

I know that won’t be a popular point of view.

And I’m not suggesting the FA shouldn’t try to stamp spitting out of the game.

But, for me, there are far worse things a player can suffer on a football pitch.

I was never spat on during my career and just as well.

If I had ever caught anyone having a go, they would have been nursing a sore face!

It’s not like it happens every week. Altercations like the one between Cisse and Evans are rare.

And the reaction of Cisse, in particular, is telling.

The Newcastle United striker held his hands up fairly quickly in the aftermath not that he had much choice.

The pictures don’t leave anything to the imagination, after all. Clearly, he is guilty.

But the fact he accepted his punishment, however harsh, and issued such a well-worded and thoughtful apology proves how seriously he and his club are taking the incident.

The player and his employer have accepted he was in the wrong. So why does he need to be hammered by the FA?

Evans’ case is slightly different, given his refusal to accept he spat at all.

The pictures seem to suggest otherwise, but that’s for the FA to decide.

If found guilty, he like Cisse, will be carpeted and face a lengthy ban.

But I can’t help but feel the authorities are using a sledgehammer to crack a chestnut here.

For me, they have far bigger problems.