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Celtic striker Nadir Ciftci handed six-game ban for biting Jim McAlister

Celtic striker Nadir Ciftci will miss the first six games of the domestic season after being found guilty of a biting offence.

Ciftci, 23, received an eight-game ban -- two of which are suspended -- after being found guilty of biting Jim McAlister during a Dundee derby on the final day of last season. 

The Turkish striker -- who joined the Scottish champions this summer from Dundee United  --- had denied the offence but was found guilty of excessive misconduct by a judicial panel convened by the Scottish Football Association.

Ciftci accepted his punishment and vowed to put the furore behind him.

"Naturally I am very disappointed with the outcome of today's hearing, however all I want to do now is to put this behind me, move on and focus on my career at my new club," he said in a statement issued to Press Association.

Ciftci, the third player to move from Tannadice to Parkhead this year after Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong, netted 33 goals in two seasons at United following his move from NAC Breda.

Ciftci received 11 bookings and one red card last season, but he twice escaped punishment after being cited by SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan on charges of violent conduct against both Inverness defender Gary Warren and Celtic skipper Scott Brown, who accused the striker of kicking him in the head.

The powerful and skilful forward is Celtic manager Ronny Deila's fourth summer signing following defenders Dedryck Boyata and Saidy Janko and Belgian goalkeeper Logan Bailly.

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