Dundee United striker Nadir Ciftci has denied claims that he bit Jim McAlister during Sunday's Tannadice derby.

United have stood by the player and claimed Ciftci was the victim during his side's 3-0 Premiership victory over Dundee.

Ciftci is understood to be facing a Scottish Football Association inquiry after McAlister appeared to accuse the Turkish-born forward of biting him towards the end of the final game of the season.

A statement from the Tannadice club read: "Dundee United FC are fully supportive of Nadir Ciftci in relation to allegations reportedly made against him by a Dundee player in the 3-0 derby win on Sunday at Tannadice.

"The club has interviewed Nadir today as the accusation levelled against him is very serious and Dundee United would not condone such behaviour.

"The player is both surprised and upset by the accusation and, on discussing the matter in detail, it is clear to us that the player has not been involved in any such incident.

"In fact, we commend Nadir for his tolerance on the field given some quite severe physical and totally unacceptable verbal provocation."

McAlister can be heard claiming Ciftci bit him on a video posted on the Scottish Professional Football League's official YouTube channel.

McAlister tackled a grounded Ciftci before the referee's whistle blew and several players became involved in a melee. Images show Ciftci with his head up close and facing McAlister's leg.

The SPFL video - entitled "Tempers flare in tetchy Dundee derby" - shows McAlister pointing to his leg and shouting to referee Bobby Madden that he had been bitten. A pitch-side microphone is less than 10 yards away.

It is understood Ciftci could face an exceptional misconduct charge from SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan, but a notice of complaint could take some time to materialise.

McGlennan will first need to collate any evidence and view submissions from Madden, as well as Ciftci and his club.

Photographs emerged on social media purporting to show a mark on McAlister's leg amid reports the former Morton player had to go to hospital.

Ciftci has received 11 bookings and one red card this season, but he has escaped punishment twice this year after being cited by McGlennan.

The former Portsmouth player successfully challenged bans for allegedly striking Inverness defender Gary Warren with his arm and for kicking Celtic skipper Scott Brown in the head. Both charges were found not proven by an SFA-appointed judicial panel.

Ciftci could face a lengthy ban if found guilty of any biting charge. Luis Suarez received a seven-game ban for his first biting offence, on PSV Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal during his Ajax days.

The Uruguay forward subsequently received a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic and a four-month suspension for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.