Cabaye denies FA charge

Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye has formally denied an FA charge of violent conduct.

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The 26-year-old's case will be heard by a regulatory commission on Wednesday morning, meaning the Magpies will know whether or not he is available for the Barclays Premier League clash with Blackburn later the same day.

An FA statement read: "Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye has denied a charge of violent conduct. Cabaye was charged following an incident in the FA Cup fourth round tie against Brighton on Saturday, January 28. A regulatory commission will hear the charge on Wednesday, February 1, 2012."

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew launched a passionate defence of the former Lille man following his clash with Brighton defender Adam El-Abd, who has written a letter to the commission to support Cabaye's claims of innocence.

Pardew, who was unhappy at the extent to which the incident was highlighted during television coverage of the game, said: "I am absolutely livid about it, if I am honest, because firstly, when the incident happened, I didn't see anything wrong with it.

"After the game, someone said to me about the TV coverage, especially the presenter, Ray Stubbs, was so ferocious about it, and I couldn't understand that. He had two professionals on that show telling him that the guy was trying to keep the player from tumbling on him.

"I have reviewed that about seven or eight times and seriously, he is trying to stop the boy falling on him.

"He does make a gesture to push him away and in doing so, catches him just on the lip. If you find that that was a malicious attempt to do that, then my goodness, you have never played this game. I cannot believe that the referee, after the game, has gone back. Now whether this is pressure that he's under, I don't know.

"Yesterday, I had a call from the Brighton coaching team to suggest to me that their player wants to support our player, and I have never had that. We never instigated it, we never asked or put a phone call in to Brighton - in fact, I didn't see (Brighton manager) Gus (Poyet) after the game, and I must apologise to him for that, because I had to shoot off.

"We have sent our letter in, a strong letter, and we have also, after the contact from Brighton, asked the Brighton player if he would forward a letter to us, which he has kindly done, and that will go in as well.