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THE SFA last night told Dundee United to forget an appeal as they found Paul Paton guilty of spitting on Jonny Hayes.

The Tannadice club announced on their website the Northern Ireland midfielder was launching an appeal against the two match ban and would be offered their full support.

However, the SFA insist there is no right of appeal under their fast track disciplinary process and their decision is final and binding.

Pleas of innocence made on behalf of Paton by Aberdeen winger Hayes fell on deaf ears at Hampden and now he will sit Sunday’s game against Celtic and the visit to St Johnstone on December 27.

A United spokesperson said: “The player will certainly be appealing this decision and will be given our full backing in this matter.”

But an SFA spokeswoman said: “There’s no right of appeal under the fast track process, the decision is final and binding.”

Television pictures caught Paton spitting at Hayes as he lay on the pitch during the Dons’ 2-0 win at Tannadice last weekend.

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Hayes had stated the case for the defence after he took to Twitter to back his rival.

He wrote: “Just wanna clear it up that Paul Paton never spat at me, what happens and is said on the pitch is brushed aside at the end of 90 mins!”

After the charge was announced, Hayes had said: “What happened on Saturday will stay between myself and Paul, we’ve spoken on this non issue. If asked I’ll confirm what happened.

“To the SFA, I’d never want to see a fellow pro being accused or found guilty of something that never happened.”

Paton was stunned at the verdict and tweeted his disbelief. He took to social media to declare: “I honestly have no words?! Can’t say too much, just wow.”

Paton’s ban will at least see him now avoid a difficult situation with the Ronny Deila’s visitors this weekend.

The 27-year-old was arrested over an alleged assault on Celtic goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska in October. The case has been under consideration by the procurator fiscal.

Paton’s yellow card on Saturday was his sixth in the league this season, sparking a further one-match ban that will rule him out of the Dundee derby at Tannadice on New Year’s Day.

Meanwhile, Queen of the South defender Andy Dowie was also hit with a two-match suspension for stamping on Rangers midfielder Ian Black during the Doonhamers’ 2-0 win last Friday night.

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