Allegations Rangers midfielder Joey Barton gambled on matches are being investigated, BBC Scotland has learned.
It follows media reports suggesting the former England international placed money on the outcome of a Celtic match.
Scottish Football Association rules prohibit players, coaches, referees and club officials in Scotland from betting on football anywhere in the world.
The SFA says it cannot comment on the matter, which threatens the Ibrox future of the 34-year-old Barton.
Section 31 of the SFA's judicial panel protocol's general disciplinary rules states that: "No club, official, Team Official or other member of Team Staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall gamble in any way on a football match."
On Monday, Barton, who has also played for Newcastle United, Burnley, QPR, Manchester City and Marseille, was suspended by Rangers for three weeksin the wake of a training-ground disagreement last week.
| Gambling in Scottish football |
|---|
| Sept 2013: Rangers midfielder Ian Black became the first player in Scotland to be punished for breaking gambling rules, receiving a 10-match ban, seven of which were suspended until the end of the season. He was also fined £7,500. He was accused of gambling on 160 matches over a seven-year period while at Inverness CT, Hearts and Rangers, including betting against his own team on three occasions. He did not play in any of the matches concerned. |
| Feb 2014: Ayr United striker Michael Moffat was suspended for six games, later reduced on appeal, for placing seven bets on six matches involving his own team. He avoided a fine but was also found guilty of placing an additional 150 bets on other games. There was no evidence to suggest Moffat has been involved in match-fixing or influencing results. |
| April 2015: The SFA was unsuccessful in appealing against what they saw as the "unduly lenient" punishment given to Rangers goalkeeper Steve Simonsen for betting on games. The 35-year-old was given a two-match ban - one suspended until the end of the season - after being found guilty of betting on 55 games. Simonsen bet on 18 matches in season 2013-14 and 37 the following season. None of these fixtures involved Rangers, and the former England Under-21 international claimed he had misunderstood the SFA's rules governing players' gambling. |
| May 2015: Partick Thistle midfielder Steven Lawless was banned for six matches, four of which were suspended until the end of the following season, for betting on 513 matches between December 2012 and March 2015. Lawless was not involved in any of the matches. |