Friday 13 February 2015 21:38, UK
Rangers goalkeeper Steve Simonsen has been given a two-match ban, one of which will be suspended, for breaching gambling rules.
The former Everton and Stoke keeper will serve the one-match suspension immediately, forcing him to sit out Friday's crucial Scottish Championship match at home to play-off rivals Hibernian.
Rangers captain Lee McCulloch will also miss the visit of HIbs after failing in his bid to overturn a two-match suspension.
Simonsen was charged in January with the Scottish Football Association claiming the 35-year-old Englishman had placed 18 bets last season and another 37 this term.
SFA Disciplinary Rule 33 prohibits 'players, coaches, club officials and referees in Scotland from betting on football anywhere in the world'.
The SFA has made it clear there is no suggestion of Simonsen placing bets on any matches he was involved in.
Simonsen, who has made 28 appearances for the Glasgow club this season, has been capped four times by England at U21 level.
Rangers caretaker assistant manager Gordon Durie believes Simonsen's suspension will serve as a warning to other players.
"Simmo knows himself that he was wrong and he's taken his punishment for it and Lee Robinson will start in goal tomorrow night against Hibernian," he said.
"Everyone is told at the start of the season about betting. Wee Blackie (midfielder Ian Black) has had it and a young boy from Ayr United got done, so hopefully this is a message to other players not to do it."
McCullough was handed a two-game ban after being found guilty of deliberately standing on Raith Rovers' Dale Carrick during the Scottish Cup match at Ibrox on Sunday.
