Poll reaction: Spitting is the worst thing a footballer can do on the pitch
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Their guilt has yet to be confirmed but if Jonny Evans and Papiss Cisse are ruled to have spat at each other at St James’ Park they will have committed the worst act possible on a football field.
That is according to the results of a recent Ladbrokes poll, which saw the act rank higher than a number of more violent crimes.
We asked you to get in touch and let us know where spitting ranks among football’s ill deeds and with 33 per cent of the vote spitting was the clear winner – or loser!
High tackles, despite having the possibility to end a player’s career, were second on the list of grievances with 24 per cent of the total vote.
It’s not just violence that grinds your gears, however, as swapping shirts at half time, a la Mario Balotelli, ranked third with 18 per cent, narrowly edging out head butting and taking twice as many votes as elbowing.
And elbowing, while occasionally used directly to hurt a player, is often deemed an occupational hazard at most by players as they used their arms both to protect themselves and gain leverage when in aerial combat.
Do you agree with the findings? Let us know in the comments below.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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