By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Daniel Podence has denied spitting at Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson during Saturday’s 1-1 draw after the Football Association (FA) charged him over the incident.
The incident was reviewed but referee David Coote was not told to go to the monitor and VAR ruled that there had been no infringement.
A flare-up between both sides in a spiky encounter at the City Ground occurred after a collision between Diego Costa and Cheikhou Kouyate with time running out.
It saw both sets of players run in to push and shove each other around before Podence appeared to spit in the direction of Johnson’s face.
The FA has since charged Podence but, reacting to the news on social media, the 27-year-old denied the allegation.
“As I have been accused of something I haven’t done… will make it clear: I did not spit on Nottingham’s player,” Podence said on Instagram on Thursday.”I’m telling the truth and I would never do such a thing, even more to a colleague.”
If found guilty, Podence would face a mandatory six-match suspension which would be a big blow to Wolves in their battle to avoid being sucked into the relegation zone.
Nottingham Forest have also been charged for failing to control their players when they surrounded the referee in the 40th minute after Kavanagh waved away their penalty appeals when Emmanuel Dennis’ cross appeared to strike Nelson Semedo on the hand.
Forest assistant Alan Tate and Wolves assistant Pablo Sanz have also been charged for “improper and/or violent” conduct in the 52nd minute after they were both sent off after a touchline melee.
Podence, Forest, Tate and Sanz have until Wednesday April 12 to provide their respective responses to the FA.