D-day for Nadir Ciftci as he bids to beat ban for fiery clash with Scott Brown

DUNDEE UNITED have appealed against Nadir Ciftci’s two-match ban for kicking Celtic’s Scott Brown in the head in last Sunday’s fiery Scottish Cup tie at Tannadice.

22:30, Wed, Mar 11, 2015

Nadir Ciftci JAMES WILLIAMSON

Nadir Ciftci is appealing a ban for kicking Scott Brown in the head

The striker will put his case at an SFA tribunal today.

Ciftci was issued with his latest notice of complaint – and offer of a suspension – by Compliance Officer Tony McGlennan.

Although he is banned anyway from this weekend’s League Cup Final, he faces missing two more games against the Hoops – the cup replay and a Premiership clash – if he loses his appeal.

The SFA will also consider appeals from Ciftci’s team-mate Paul Paton and Celtic’s Virgil Van Dijk following their red cards.

Paton was a victim of mistaken identity, with the SFA ready to rescind referee Craig Thomson’s original decision, while Celtic insist their defender was wrongfully dismissed.

Celtic are understood to be poised to use the SFA’s inability to charge Calum Butcher – the man actually involved in the case of mistaken identity with Paton – as a major part of Van Dijk’s defence.

The SFA’s rules do not allow Butcher to be retrospectively charged and Celtic are on record as stating that to be “completely illogical and fundamentally unfair” as Van Dijk faces a two-game if his appeal is thrown out.