Ban remains on Rangers duo - SFA

The Scottish Football Association will not re-visit their decision to ban Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor for life despite the Rangers duo being handed a career lifeline by Ibrox boss Walter Smith.

Ferguson and McGregor were banished from international football after the furore surrounding their late-night drinking session following the World Cup qualifying defeat in Holland last month.

Smith stripped Ferguson of the Rangers captaincy and suspended both players for a fortnight, but the Light Blues' boss has now welcomed both players back. However, their international careers still appear over after an SFA spokesman told PA Sport: "The SFA board considered the matter last week. We now consider it closed."

Smith had earlier said: "I did say in an off-the-record briefing to journalists that they would not play for the club again.

"Since then I have had a think about it and I have looked at the way it has been handled by the SFA.

"The president (George Peat) said the issue, the original problem, was not handled properly, then (Scotland manager) George Burley said it had not been handled properly.

"So I ask myself: if the SFA admit they did not handle it properly, am I being harsh? There were six players involved and two end up getting the majority of the blame. The SFA have started a new trend in criminality - if you leave the scene of a crime early, you are not guilty.

"If people in charge are saying it was not handled well, then I feel I have got to give them some leeway.

"I have the right to change my mind but what I am doing is making them available for selection again, not saying they will play."