KIRK BROADFOOT today hit back at claims by Dundee United manager Craig Levein that he punched Noel Hunt in an off-the-ball attack.

United striker Hunt had to leave the field with a bleeding tongue in the second half of his side's 3-1 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

And Levein, who tore strips off match referee Mike McCurry in an astonishing post-match outburst, insisted that Gers right-back had assaulted his player.

However, Broadfoot has dismissed the accusations, which are certain to land the United boss in hot water with the SFA, as total nonsense.

And he revealed the opposition player, denied a stonewall penalty by McCurry after being tripped by Davie Weir in the Gers box, had accidentally collided with him.

Kirk rapped: "I didn't punch him. He ran into my shoulder and I think he injured himself. Things like that happen in football. I don't know why Craig Levein said what he did.

"Last year when I was playing for St Mirren up at Tannadice Noel Hunt kicked me in the face. Craig Levein said that I must have done something to provoke him.

"I don't know why he has said that. What was Craig Levein doing watching us two instead of the ball in the match anyway?"

United are set to appeal to the SFA over McCurry's handling of the game.

In his tirade, Levein stated: "I said to him that we were as well not turning up. What was the point? We were as well going home.

"Mike could have phoned me this morning and said: Look, Rangers are going to get the three points today - just tell your lads to stay in the house.' "It's impossible to win here in important games. The referee has bottled it at the penalty. He knew, if he had given the penalty, he would have had to send Davie Weir off. Who cares about Dundee United?"