Friday 14 October 2016 17:33, UK
Joey Barton's request for extra time to consider his Scottish Football Association gambling charge has been granted.
The Rangers midfielder had been given until Wednesday, 12 October to respond after he was accused of placing 44 bets on games between 1 July and 15 September.
But he asked for an extension to examine the paperwork in the case against him and the SFA's judicial panel have agreed to postpone the hearing from 27 October until Thursday, 17 November.
SFA disciplinary rules prohibit players, coaches, club officials and referees in Scotland from betting on football worldwide.
Barton was due to return to Auchenhowie on Monday after serving a month-long club suspension following a training ground altercation, but Rangers said the player has been told to stay away for another seven days after launching a 'formal disciplinary procedure'.
If Rangers cannot broker a peace deal or find grounds to sack him, they face having to pay off the former England international's two-year contract, which is worth £2m.
