BARRY Ferguson and Allan McGregor were handed a lifetime ban from international duty after pressure from angry Tartan Army fans was brought to bear on the Scottish Football Association.
The Rangers duo were dropped to the bench for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Iceland at Hampden after a drinking session at the Cameron House Hotel following their 3-0 defeat by Holland on Saturday night.
It looked like that may have been the extent of their punishment.
Scotland manager George Burley claimed after the 2-1 win that Ferguson would remain skipper and McGregor would also be back for the next World Cup qualifier against Norway in August, a decision that was later backed by SFA chief executive Gordon Smith.
However, newspaper photographs the next day showed they had been apparently making V-signs while on the bench at Hampden.
Those actions led to Rangers suspending both players for a fortnight without pay which has cast doubt over their Ibrox futures.
However, PA Sport understands it was an avalanche of complaints from Scotland fans to the SFA offices at Hampden which led to the apparent U-turn by the governing body.
Following a further meeting between Smith and Burley, sanctioned by the SFA board, it was decided neither player would play for Scotland again.
An SFA spokesman said: "In light of the events of the past 48 hours and following further discussions between the national team manager and the chief executive, it has been decided that Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor will no longer be considered for international selection by Scotland.
"This action has been taken in the best interest of the squad, the fans and the country.
"We are determined to qualify for the World Cup and we must ensure that nothing is allowed to distract us from achieving this goal."
Tam Ferry, a spokesman for the East of Scotland Tartan Army, claims there is widespread support for the lifetime bans.
"The SFA have got a good history of listening to the fans," he said.
"The Association of Tartan Army clubs meets them four times a year.
"The email lines are always open and they have been open and receptive recently.
"I don't know who they were giving the V-signs to but they came across as petulant little kids.
"This is meant to be the Scotland captain, an ambassador for his country.
"He brought embarrassment to the team and the nation.
"It doesn't come across well, the world's press are seeing this. It's not the behaviour you expect, it's childish.
"I have spoken to quite a few guys and they are all in agreement that the way they behaved is really disrespectful to the national team."
It looked like that may have been the extent of their punishment.
Scotland manager George Burley claimed after the 2-1 win that Ferguson would remain skipper and McGregor would also be back for the next World Cup qualifier against Norway in August, a decision that was later backed by SFA chief executive Gordon Smith.
However, newspaper photographs the next day showed they had been apparently making V-signs while on the bench at Hampden.
Those actions led to Rangers suspending both players for a fortnight without pay which has cast doubt over their Ibrox futures.
However, PA Sport understands it was an avalanche of complaints from Scotland fans to the SFA offices at Hampden which led to the apparent U-turn by the governing body.
Following a further meeting between Smith and Burley, sanctioned by the SFA board, it was decided neither player would play for Scotland again.
An SFA spokesman said: "In light of the events of the past 48 hours and following further discussions between the national team manager and the chief executive, it has been decided that Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor will no longer be considered for international selection by Scotland.
"This action has been taken in the best interest of the squad, the fans and the country.
"We are determined to qualify for the World Cup and we must ensure that nothing is allowed to distract us from achieving this goal."
Tam Ferry, a spokesman for the East of Scotland Tartan Army, claims there is widespread support for the lifetime bans.
"The SFA have got a good history of listening to the fans," he said.
"The Association of Tartan Army clubs meets them four times a year.
"The email lines are always open and they have been open and receptive recently.
"I don't know who they were giving the V-signs to but they came across as petulant little kids.
"This is meant to be the Scotland captain, an ambassador for his country.
"He brought embarrassment to the team and the nation.
"It doesn't come across well, the world's press are seeing this. It's not the behaviour you expect, it's childish.
"I have spoken to quite a few guys and they are all in agreement that the way they behaved is really disrespectful to the national team."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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