LONDON - ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas insisted on Thursday he has nothing to hide if he is hauled before the Football Association over claims that he spat at Hull's assistant manager.

'I've absolutely nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of,' he told the Sun newspaper.

'The simple fact is I did not spit at the assistant manager of Hull City.' Hull boss Phil Brown accused the Spanish midfielder of spitting at assistant manager Brian Horton in the tunnel after Arsenal's ill-tempered 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

But Spain midfielder Fabregas, who didn't play in the match, added: 'I have never spat at anyone in my life. It is a disgusting habit. Why would I do something like that after a match I was not even playing in?

'I was on the pitch at the end of the game celebrating with my team-mates but I promise I did not do anything wrong.' English football's governing body will be obliged to investigate the incident if Hull make a formal complaint or if the incident is mentioned by the referee in his match report.

Asked about the prospect of a probe, Fabregas said: 'I will leave it in the FA's hands for the time being - I will wait to see what they say.' Fabregas is also under pressure over a YouTube video clip that appears to show him spitting on Michael Ballack during a 2005 Champions League match when the Germany midfielder, now playing for Chelsea, was at Bayern Munich - but he denied this.

'I remember the incident clearly. It was four years ago and I leant over and shouted at him. I did not spit at him,' Fabregas said. -- AFP