Rangers: Ian Black lodges defence against match-betting allegation

Image source, SNS

Rangers midfielder Ian Black has lodged his defence against match-betting allegations.

It is alleged Black bet against his "then registered club" three times between March 4, 2006 and July 28, 2013.

Rangers boss Ally McCoist said he has no problem selecting Black and played the midfielder in the victory over Airdrieonians.

Black will be invited to appear at a judicial panel hearing on 12 September.

The former Hearts and Inverness CT midfielder has also been charged with breaching the SFA's disciplinary rule 22 by "betting on a further 10 football matches that involved then registered club".

Disciplinary Rule 22 has been allegedly breached by:

* Betting on three football matches on then-registered club not to win.

* Betting on a further 10 football matches that involved then-registered club.

* Betting on a further 147 football matches.

The SFA's Disciplinary Rules 23 states: "No club, official, team official, other member of team staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall knowingly behave in a manner, during or in connection with a match in which the party has participated or has any influence, either direct or indirect, which could give rise to an event in which they or any third party benefits financially through betting."

Black moved to Ibrox in July 2012 after his contract at Hearts expired. He joined Inverness in 2004 and spent five seasons with the Highland club before joining the Tynecastle outfit.