Ciftci wins red card appeal but Liam Craig banned

Nadir Ciftci arrives at Hampden for a disciplinary hearing. Picture: SNS

Ciftci has won his appeal against his red card in the quarter-final and saw a further violent conduct charge, for grabbing an opponent by the face, thrown out.

The former Portsmouth player is still to face another hearing relating to an alleged attack on a match official.

Meanwhile, Hibernian midfielder Liam Craig has lost his challenge against a charge of violent conduct in the Edinburgh derby and will miss two games.

Stevenson and Craig exchange words. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Ciftci was sent off after getting involved in a mass on-field disturbance sparked by a clash between Inverness captain Richie Foran and United winger Gary Mackay-Steven.

But the red card has been downgraded to a yellow by a Scottish Football Association-convened panel, meaning he is free to face Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

And a further charge of grabbing Caley Thistle left-back Graeme Shinnie by the face was not proven. Ciftci would have missed a total of five games had he lost both cases.

The 21-year-old is due to face another SFA hearing on November 21 over a separate excessive misconduct charge after being accused of seizing hold of assistant referee Gavin Harris by the throat following the sending-off.

Inverness manager and Hibernian target Terry Butcher and United coach Darren Jackson are scheduled to face the same panel on the same day after they were sent to the stand in the aftermath of the brawl.

Craig lost his appeal against a two-match ban for “kicking or attempting to kick” Hearts goalscorer Ryan Stevenson in the face during Hibernian’s 1-0 Scottish League Cup quarter-final defeat last Wednesday.

The former St Johnstone midfielder misses his team’s Scottish Premiership clash against Inverness on Saturday as well as the first League Cup tie of next season.

Dundee United forward Nadir Ciftci has enjoyed success in the first of his two scheduled disciplinary hearings over his part in a League Cup melee at Inverness.

Ciftci has won his appeal against his red card in the quarter-final and saw a further violent conduct charge, for grabbing an opponent by the face, thrown out.

The former Portsmouth player is still to face another hearing relating to an alleged attack on a match official.

Meanwhile, Hibernian midfielder Liam Craig has lost his challenge against a charge of violent conduct in the Edinburgh derby and will miss two games.