United’s Nadir Ciftci charged with biting rival

Dundee Utd's Nadir Ciftci. Picture: John Devlin

The Tannadice striker has been accused of sinking his teeth into his Dens rival during the Tayside derby on the final day of the Scottish Premiership season.

Referee Bobby Madden did not spot the incident, but the SFA is now ready to act after Hampden compliance officer Tony McGlennan issued Ciftci with a notice of complaint.

The 23-year-old Turk has been charged with breaching disciplinary rule 202 by committing “an act of excessive misconduct by biting McAlister upon his leg to his injury”.

Ciftci – who is being targeted by Celtic after announcing he will let the final year of his United contract run down – has until next Thursday to respond to the charge.

A hearing has been set for Monday, 20 July and, if found guilty, he faces a substantial ban.

In a statement, the Tangerines said: “United confirms it has received a notice of complaint from the compliance officer in relation to an alleged breach of disciplinary rule 202 by striker Nadir Ciftci in the SPFL Premiership fixture versus Dundee on Sunday 24 May.

“The club will review the evidence ahead of the deadline on Thursday 25 June, once it has received the full documentation from the Scottish FA.”

Pictures emerged on social media after the match, apparently showing McAlister’s leg with a bite-shaped red mark.

But United responded at the time by backing their player and claimed he had been provoked throughout the game.

In another statement released the day after the match, the club said it had “interviewed Nadir as the accusation levelled against him is very serious and Dundee United would not condone such behaviour”.

United, meanwhile, are today expected to announce the signing of centre-back Mark Durnan from Queen of the South.