There was a remarkable outcome to Nadir Ciftci’s marathon disciplinary hearing at Hampden.
The Dundee United striker was at the national stadium to face a charge of grabbing linesman Gavin Harris by the throat during the League Cup quarter-final tie against Inverness Caley Thistle on October 29, which the 10-man Tangerines went on to lose in extra-time.
After almost three hours of deliberations, what appears to be an unprecedented decision was announced by the SFA. The panel did find the Turk guilty but not of the original offence.
Rather, an amended allegation of using “Excessive misconduct at a match by placing an open hand into the lower area of the assistant referee’s throat” was found to be proven against Ciftci.
So instead of what Courier Sport understands would have been a minimum four-match ban had he been found guilty of the original offence, Ciftci will now only be suspended for Saturday’s home Premiership clash against Hearts, with a further one-match ban suspended to the end of the season.
It is a compromise, reached after two previous hearing dates were cancelled due to the unavailability of witnesses.
The whole episode paints neither match referee Kevin Clancy nor his assistant Harris in a good light.
Last month, Ciftci had the red card he was shown by Clancy reduced to a yellow, while the charge of violent conduct against him for allegedly grabbing ICT player Graeme Shinnie’s face was found to be not proven.
Now it has been accepted that he didn’t grab Harris either.
For more on this story see The Courier or try our digital edition.