Rangers pair banned for seven games over breach of COVID-19 rules

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Rangers v Celtic - Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow, Britain - September 1, 2019 Rangers' Jordan Jones leaves the pitch after being sent off by referee Bobby Madden REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

Rangers' Jordan Jones and George Edmundson have been banned for seven games after breaching COVID-19 regulations by attending a party, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) said on Thursday.

Jones and Edmundson attended a private gathering "with others outside their household" on Nov. 1 following which they were suspended by Rangers pending an internal investigation.

The ban means the pair will miss Rangers' games against Aberdeen, Falkirk, Ross County, Dundee United, Motherwell, St Johnstone and Hibernian and will be eligible to return only for their clash with St Mirren on Dec. 30.

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Europa League - Round of 16 First Leg - Rangers v Bayer Leverkusen - Ibrox, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - March 12, 2020 Rangers' George Edmundson celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Rangers are unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership this season and top the table with 38 points from 14 games, nine clear of Celtic, who have two games in hand.

(Reporting by Arvind Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)