FA investigates spitting claim

The Football Association will look into an allegation of spitting during Blackburn’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City yesterday.

City right-back David Sommeil is alleged to have spat in the face of Rovers striker Paul Dickov in the first half of the game at Ewood Park.

It is the second highly controversial incident involving Sommeil in a matter of days as he accused Arsenal striker Robin van Persie of making a racist remark during last Thursday’s 3-1 home defeat by the Gunners.

The FA are currently investigating that matter, and now have another case to consider involving the Frenchman.

An FA spokesman confirmed: “We are looking into it to see if there is any substance to the incident.”

It is almost certain referee Howard Webb did not see what transpired – and will therefore not have mentioned it in his match report – as no action was taken at the time.

Sommeil was later involved in another of the game’s incidents on the hour which resulted in a red card for Tugay.

The midfielder launched himself into a tackle on the 31-year-old and although minimal contact was made, Webb dismissed the former Turkey star who now faces a three-match ban for the start of next season.

Rovers manager Mark Hughes said: “I honestly didn’t see that. I was trying to organise a couple of substitutions at the time, but I have since spoken to Tugay and he said he didn’t catch him (Sommeil).

“The guy made a real deal of it, rolling over five or six times.”

Hughes, his side winning with goals from Zurab Khizanishvili and Shefki Kuqi, then gave an indication as to what unfolded between Dickov and Sommeil.

“He was not our favourite person at the time anyway because he was involved in an unsavoury incident with Paul in the first half,” added Hughes.

“Paul showed real control to stop the situation escalating, with their player hardly covering himself in glory.”