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Ross County defender Callum Semple has been slapped with an eight-match ban for breaking the SFA 's rules on betting.

The Englishman - who only joined the Highlanders in January on loan from Sheffield United - was found guilty of breaching disciplinary rule 31 after being hit with a notice of complaint last month.

The 20-year-old broke strict rules on gambling between July 2018 and March 1 this year.

Footballers are prohibited from betting on football matches at any level and Semple, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Queen of the South , is serving an immediate two game ban with a further six matches suspended until the end of 2019/20.

Disciplinary Rule 31 states "No club, 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."

(Image: SNS Group)

Former Rangers midfielder Joey Barton was banned for 18 months after being charged with placing 1,260 bets on football matches or competitions from 2006 to 2016.

That was later reduced by five months after an appeal.

Ex-Hearts and Rangers midfielder Ian Black was suspended for 10 games - seven suspended - and fined £7500 after admitting breaking betting rules.

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