INTERNATIONAL

• UEFA charges Frei for spitting

  
  

  Lisbon, Portugal (Sports Network) - Just days after Italy's Francesco Totti was slapped with a three-match ban for spitting on a Danish player, Switzerland's Alex Frei was charged by UEFA's disciplinary board with spitting on England's Steven Gerrard.

  Frei has denied the charges and will wait for a response later on Sunday.

  "I'm an emotional player and am not an angel, but this is not in my character," Frei said in his own defense.

  The incident apparently occurred on Thursday during England's 2-0 win over Switzerland. The charges come after a German television station was able to locate the possible offense.

  Totti was clearly caught on videotape spitting on Denmark midfielder Christian Poulsen after the two got tangled up. Unlike Frei, Totti admitted guilt and was then banned until the semifinals, if Italy advances that far in the competition.

  06/19 16:09:46 ET