SFA hearing for Gavin Gunning after ban rejection

Gavin Gunning was red carded last month for violent conduct after clashing with Hibernian's Kevin Thomson. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Gunning was issued with a notice of complaint by SFA compliance officer Vincent Lunny over an incident during his side’s 1-0 Scottish Premiership defeat on Saturday.

The charge accuses Gunning of “violent conduct by kicking or attempting to kick an opposing player, namely Virgil van Dijk”.

A statement from his club soon read: “Dundee United

confirms that it has refused the offer of a fixed penalty in relation to the notice of complaint issued to Gavin Gunning.”

The former Blackburn defender appeared to aim a kick at Van Dijk after being caught late by the Dutchman when making a clearance inside his penalty box. The Celtic defender did not go down or react to the incident.

If found guilty by a panel, Gunning faces a three-match ban – an automatic two-match suspension plus another game in the Scottish Premiership.

The extra game is a result of the fact it would be his second such offence of the season. The Irishman received a red card and a two-game ban for a clash with Hibernian midfielder Kevin Thomson last month on his only other appearance this term.

United face Ross County and Motherwell in their next two league games and then take on Hearts after their League Cup clash with Partick Thistle.

Hearts midfielder Jamie Hamill, meanwhile, looks set to have his red card from the 2-0 defeat at Inverness Caledonian Thistle overturned at Hampden today.

The former Kilmarnock player was given his marching orders by referee John Beaton in the dying stages of Saturday’s game for handball in the box.

But television footage of the incident clearly shows that Billy McKay’s shot struck Hamill in the face.

McKay subsequently missed the penalty and Hearts are

hoping they will have Hamill available for next Saturday’s lunchtime visit of Celtic.