Black hit with betting accusations

Rangers midfielder Ian Black has been accused of betting against his own team three times. Black, who has also played for Inverness and Hearts, was hit with a Scottish Football Association notice of complaint that alleges he bet against his "then-registered club" three times between March 4, 2006 and July 28, 2013. On the first date mentioned in the notice of complaint, Black played 90 minutes for Inverness in a 1-0 home defeat by Motherwell. The final date in question saw Black score in a 4-0 Ramsdens Cup victory for Rangers against Albion Rovers. Black has also been charged with breaching the SFA's disciplinary rule 22 by "betting on a further 10 football matches that involved his then-registered club" and "betting on a further 147 football matches". It is not known which of his three clubs Black is accused of betting against, but it is understood that the charges in general encompass his spells at Inverness, Hearts and Rangers. However, the SFA also stated there was no evidence to suggest any breach of rule 23, which prohibits players and officials knowingly behaving 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 has been given seven days to respond to the complaint with a hearing date pencilled in for September 12. The 28-year-old, who made his international debut for Scotland in August last year, joined Inverness in July 2004. He was transferred to Hearts in July 2009, and arrived at fallen Glasgow giants Rangers last year. Source: AFP