Simonsen charged

Rangers goalkeeper Steve Simonsen has been charged by the Scottish Football Association with breaching strict gambling rules.

Hampden chiefs claim the 35-year-old Englishman 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 governing body's first charge states that the former Everton and Dundee stopper placed 18 bets between January 15 and June 22 last year.

A second rap accuses Simonsen, 35, of then gambling on 37 matches which took place between September 6 and January 13.

The SFA insist there is no suggestion the Ibrox player was involved in any of the matches he is accused of betting on.

A Principal Hearing has been set for Thursday, February 12. Simonsen has until Thursday, January 29, to respond to the complaint.

The SFA has taken a hard-line stance on gambling breaches in recent years.

In September 2013, Simonsen's Ibrox team-mate Ian Black was handed a 10-game ban - seven of which were suspended - and a £7,500 fine after admitted to placing 160 football bets over a seven-year period.

Three of the matches involved bets placed against the former Hearts and Inverness midfielder's own team.

Five months later, Ayr United frontman Michael Moffat was given a four-game ban - with another two suspended - after he was found guilty of placing seven bets on six matches involving his own team.

Moffat, who avoided a fine, was also found guilty of placing an additional 150 bets on other games.