Dundee United's Paul Paton and Aberdeen's Jonny Hayes were in opposition on Saturday

Dundee United will be unable to appeal against Paul Paton's two-match ban for spitting at Aberdeen's Jonny Hayes, the Scottish FA has confirmed.

That is despite United having vowed to contest Thursday's decision by an independent judicial panel.

It found the 27-year-old midfielder guilty despite wide-man Hayes having claimed his opponent was innocent.

The SFA has confirmed there is no route of appeal in their fast-track judicial system for Paton.

It means that he will now miss his side's Scottish Premiership matches at home to Celtic and away to St Johnstone.

The charge followed last week's match between United and Aberdeen, but Hayes had taken to social media to say: "Paul Paton never spat at me."

Dundee United statement on Paul Paton verdict "We are stunned firstly that it was brought in front of the judicial panel by the new compliance officer and secondly that the judicial panel have found the player guilty of something that we do not believe to have taken place."

United issued an angry statement after the SFA upheld the complaint against Paton.

"The player will certainly be appealing this decision and will be given our full backing in this matter," said the Tayside club.

"The decision today relating to Paul Paton is incredulous.

"We are stunned firstly that it was brought in front of the judicial panel by the new compliance officer and secondly that the judicial panel have found the player guilty of something that we do not believe to have taken place.

"It is truly mystifying that three people in a room at Hampden Park in Glasgow on a Thursday afternoon can see something that was not seen by the referee, first assistant, second assistant, fourth official, SPFL delegate, the managers of either team, the players of either team, including the alleged villain and victim, not to mention the 11,168 supporters in the stadium.

"As part of our original defence submission, we studied enlarged video footage to ensure our player was not guilty of such an offence.

"We were sound in our belief that no such action had taken place and we will continue to support the player in this matter through the appeal process."

Meanwhile, Queen of the South's Andy Dowie has also had his two match ban upheld for standing on Ian Black's leg during his side's win over Rangers last week.