Dundee United reveal Nadir Ciftci will contest ban

Scott Brown (centre) and Nadir Ciftci after the clash between the two. Picture: SNS

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DUNDEE United striker Nadir Ciftci will appear in person at Hampden today to contest the two-match ban offered to him by the SFA’s Compliance Officer for allegedly kicking Celtic captain Scott Brown during Sunday’s ill-tempered Scottish Cup quarter-final at Tannadice.

A statement on the United website last night said: “Dundee United confirms that it has declined the fixed suspension offer. Nadir will appear at Hampden to put his case on Thursday and the club will fully support him in this appeal.”

Meanwhile, Celtic striker Anthony Stokes has expressed surprised that more United players were not cited by the SFA after the controversial 1-1 draw.

As well as the charge levelled against Ciftci, Stokes also expected Aidan Connolly and Calum Butcher to be offered bans. Stokes is adamant that Connolly dived to win the penalty awarded against him, while Butcher escaped punishment for his clash with Virgil van Dijk, despite Paul Paton being sent off in an apparent case of mistaken identity.

Asked if he was surprised Connolly did not receive a simulation charge, Stokes said: “I was a bit because I know for a fact I have not touched him. I was going to make a tackle and, from one of the camera angles you can see, I have gone to put my foot in but I have pulled it away. He was already on the way down.”

Van Dijk will miss Sunday’s League Cup final against United unless he wins his appeal against his red card today, but SFA rules do not allow Paton’s red card to be transferred to Butcher.