Rangers midfielder Lee McCulloch is to serve a two-match ban with immediate effect after losing his appeal against a red card for violent conduct.
McCulloch will now miss Sunday's Scottish Cup tie against Arbroath and next week's Scottish Premier League match with St Johnstone.
He was sent off after a clash with Graham Carey in champions Rangers' shock 2-1 league defeat by St Mirren on Christmas Eve.
McCulloch's claim of wrongful dismissal was dismissed by a Scottish Football Association (SFA) disciplinary tribunal hearing on Thursday.
The SFA had the option of imposing a further one-match ban had they deemed the appeal "frivolous" but McCulloch escaped additional punishment.
His appeal meant McCulloch was able to play in the Old Firm derby on December 28, a match Rangers lost 1-0 as Celtic replaced them at the top of the table.
McCulloch may well have missed the Arbroath match in any event after injury meant he sat out Monday's win over Motherwell before missing training with a heavy cold.
Rangers manager Ally McCoist, speaking after the St Mirren match, had criticised referee Steve McLean's decison to show McCulloch a straight red card
"I've seen it once and I would have to say it was extremely harsh," he said.
"I've had a good chat with Lee McCulloch and he assures me there was no malice at all and he was just trying to fend the boy off. The boy actually had an arm around his waist.
"I'm a wee bit disappointed with how the boy went down to be honest with you and no physio came on to my knowledge.
"It changed the game, there is no doubt about it, and we are disappointed with it."
Source: AFP
