Celtic's Anthony Stokes surprised more Dundee United players did not receive bans

Celtic striker Anthony Stokes admits he was surprised more Dundee United players were not cited by the SFA following Sunday's acrimonious Scottish Cup tie.

United have confirmed striker Nadir Ciftci will fight a two-match ban for allegedly kicking Celtic skipper Scott Brown in the head during the 1-1 draw at Tannadice.

Stokes also expected winger Aidan Connolly and defender Calum Butcher to be offered bans, with the Republic of Ireland international adamant Connolly dived to win the penalty awarded against him.

Butcher escaped punishment for his clash with Virgil van Dijk, despite Paul Paton being sent off in what appeared to be a case of mistaken identity.

Strange

When asked if he was surprised Connolly did not receive a simulation charge, Stokes said: "I was a bit because I know for a fact I have not touched him.

“I was going to make a tackle and, from one of the camera angles you can see, I have gone to put my foot in but I have pulled it away. He was already on the way down.

"It's a strange one for me because there was no contact. I remember a similar incident with myself against Kilmarnock, but the boy has caught me.

“I might have gone down easily, but I think if you make contact in the box then you run the risk. I didn't make contact. He has tried to read the tackle and gone down too early."

Illogical

Hoops’ Dutch defender Van Dijk will miss Sunday's Scottish League Cup final against United unless he wins an appeal against his red card but the SFA does not have the power within its rules to transfer Paton's red card to Butcher.

"It seems like a strange one to me. The officials have obviously given the red card to Paton," added Stokes.

"Fair enough he is nowhere involved in the situation but they have obviously mis-identified someone so there has to be some breach of the rules somewhere from Dundee United. For me it's illogical.

"I think they should clarify what the situation was. They have obviously seen something from one of the Dundee United players that deserves a red card, so surely that should be punished?

"I saw the incident where he has kicked Browny (Scott Brown) in the head and for me he would be better off just taking his punishment, because it seems quite clear.”

Stokes does not feel any bad feeling will spill over into this weekend’s Hampden final, despite the continued fallout from the game at Tannadice.

"We are just fully focused on ourselves and how we perform," said Stokes.

"It's a cup final so there's going to be an edge in that aspect but we will be worried about our performance and not getting involved in stupid tit-for-tats."