CESC IS THE SPITS; Arsenal star in previous spat attack.

Byline: By JOHN CROSS

CESC FABREGAS was last night at the centre of an FA probe which could leave him facing a lengthy ban.

Hull City assistant boss Brian Horton has also taken legal advice from the League Managers' Association after accusing the Arsenal captain of spitting at him.

Despite Fabregas's claim that he has never spat at anyone, pictures of him appearing to do precisely that to Michael Ballack during a Champions League tie against Bayern Munich four years ago were posted on YouTube.

"I did not spit at him. It happens during matches that sometimes you have heated exchanges with your opponents. I am not proud of it but I was 17 years old," said Fabregas.

Football Association chiefs have now launched a full-scale investigation into the ugly scenes after Arsenal's controversial FA Cup win and have written to Horton and Hull boss Phil Brown to ask for their views.

Spain star Fabregas, 21, is alleged to have spat at Horton in the tunnel, and the Tigers will claim that it left spittle on Horton's trouser leg.

Hull chairman Paul Duffen said: 0"We know what happened, many members of our team and staff know what happened, so we welcome the inquiry totally. It needs to be sorted out."

The Gunners star could be hit with a disrepute charge, but Fabregas has furiously denied the allegation.

Arsenal players are counterclaiming that Horton launched a foul-mouthed tirade on the pitch after the final whistle which sparked the furious bust-up.

Brown and Horton were incensed after Arsenal's controversial winner and also angry at Arsene Wenger after claiming he deliberately tried to get Hull players booked for time-wasting.

Horton told Mirror Sport last night: "I would love to be able to talk about it but at the moment I've been told not to say anything while the FA are investigating. We'll see what transpires, but I'll have my say at some point."

Brown is up on an FA charge today following a bust-up with Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear and could get a touchline ban.

Brown will also face an FA charge for alleging referee Mike Riley "succumbed" to crowd pressure on Tuesday.

Hull will be fined pounds 25,000 by the FA after exceeding five bookings in the FA Cup tie, while the FA will ask Arsenal for any CCTV footage of the alleged spitting incident.

CAPTION(S):

GOBSMACKED: YouTube video shows Fabregas leaning down to apparently spit in Ballack's face; ROW Hull No.2 Horton is taking legal advice