THERE is something particularly unsavoury about the sight of two footballers spitting at each other.

An ill-advised challenge might result in a broken leg, while a tirade of swear words in the face of a referee sets a dreadful example for children to follow, but spitting at a fellow professional is an especially objectionable act.

Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse and Manchester United defender Jonny Evans behaved abysmally on Wednesday evening as they traded bodily fluids at St James’ Park. Both players deserve the hefty suspension that is surely coming their way.

Yet for all that Cisse’s conduct should be roundly condemned, both the player and his employers deserve considerable credit for the swift way in which they issued an apology.

While Evans and the Manchester United hierarchy attempted to wriggle out of their responsibilities, Cisse issued a statement in which he said: “I hope children out there playing football for their clubs and schools this weekend will know better than to retaliate when they are angry.”

Newcastle managing director, Lee Charnley, added: “In life, when you do something wrong you have to front up, admit your mistakes and accept the punishment.”

Cisse will serve a seven-match ban, and during that time has pledged to carry out additional community activities to stress the error of his ways.

That doesn’t excuse his actions, but it at least displays a maturity and self-awareness that appears to be absent in Evans and his manager at Manchester United, Louis van Gaal.

Our sport pages have featured a number of criticisms of the hierarchy at Newcastle United in the last few seasons, but in this instance, they have taken their wider responsibilities seriously and not attempted to brush some poor behaviour under the carpet. If only more football clubs would follow their lead.