Dundee United have received a massive boost ahead of their Scottish Cup clash against Celtic with the news that Nadir Ciftci is free to play.
Ciftci was issued with a notice of complaint by the SFA for alleged violent conduct against ICT player Gary Warren during the February 24 Premiership match against Inverness Caley Thistle at Tannadice.
The Tangerines, though, swiftly moved to say they would not be accepting the offer of a two-game ban for their player so the matter instead went to a hearing at Hampden yesterday.
The outcome was a great result for United, with the disciplinary panel concluding that the case – a supposed breach of disciplinary rule 200 – was found to be not proven.
That means the Turkish frontman is free to face Celtic in Sunday’s home quarter-final, although he will still miss the League Cup final against the Hoops at the national stadium the following weekend as he is banned for collecting two bookings during that competition.
He will then be available to line up at Parkhead in the league on March 21.
A short statement from United read: “A disciplinary tribunal convened today in accordance with the Judicial Panel Protocol to consider Nadir Ciftci’s alleged breach of Disciplinary Rule 200 at the Dundee United v Inverness Caledonian Thistle game on Tuesday, 24th February 2015 found the breach not proven.”
This is the second time that United have been vindicated in choosing to fight Ciftci’s corner rather than accept the original notice of complaint issued to him by the governing body.
Back in November 2013, the striker was charged with “seizing hold” of assistant referee Gavin Harris “by the throat” during a League Cup game against Inverness.
There were fears he could be facing a 12-game ban but the Tangerines challenged it and the charge was amended to read “excessive misconduct at a match by placing an open hand into the lower area of the assistant referee’s throat.”
That resulted in a two-game suspension, with one held over until the end of the season.