Arsenal´s Fabregas cleared over spitting row

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has been cleared over allegations he spat at Hull assistant boss Brian Horton, the English Football Association announced on Friday.

Hull launched a complaint over the incident, which was alleged to have taken place after the FA Cup quarter-final tie between the clubs at the Emirates Stadium on March 17, which the Gunners won 2-1.

However, Spain midfielder Fabregas, who was not playing at the time because of a knee injury, always maintained his innocence and an independent commission found there was not enough evidence on two charges of improper conduct.

While the outcome of the investigation was concluded last week, the FA had not wanted to make any public statement until after the end of the Premier League season on Sunday, when Hull will face champions Manchester United needing victory to guarantee their top-flight status.

But the report was leaked to newspapers in England, forcing the FA to bring forward the annoucement.

Hull manager Phil Brown, who made the spitting allegation live on television in a post-match interview, was also charged by the FA following his outburst at referee Mike Riley, and has requested a personal hearing into that matter.

A statement from the FA read: “The FA can confirm that, at a regulatory commission hearing, two charges of improper conduct against Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas were found not proved.

“The charges related to Fabregas’s conduct following the FA Cup match between Arsenal and Hull at the Emirates Stadium on 17 March.

“One charge concerned his conduct after coming onto the pitch following the final whistle. The second charge related to an allegation of spitting.”

Neither referee Riley nor any of the other match officials mentioned anything of such an incident in their report to Soho Square.

Horton, though, had contacted the League Managers Association to lodge a complaint before Hull, and subsequently Arsenal, were asked by the FA to submit their observations.