Rangers: Steve Simonsen charged with breaching SFA gambling rules

Rangers goalkeeper Steve Simonsen has been charged with breaching gambling rules by the Scottish FA.

A notice of complaint from the governing body accuses the 35-year-old of betting on 55 football matches over two separate periods.

One relates to 18 matches in the 2013-14 campaign, the other to 37 games this season.

Simonsen has until 29 January to respond to the charge, with a principal hearing date set for 12 February.

The SFA notice of complaint stresses that there is no evidence of Simonsen gambling on any matches he has played in, or in any game featuring Rangers.

SFA disciplinary rule 33 prohibits players, coaches, club officials and referees in Scotland from betting on football anywhere in the world.

In September 2013, Simonsen's Ibrox team-mate Ian Black was fined and given a 10-match ban, seven of which were suspended.

Black was accused of gambling on 160 matches over a seven-year period, including betting against his own team on three occasions.

In January 2014, Michael Moffat, then with Ayr United, was found guilty of placing seven bets on six matches involving his own team.

Now at Dunfermline, the striker was also found guilty of placing an additional 150 bets on other games. His six-game ban was cut to four, with two suspended, after an appeal against the penalty.