Was surprised when their club side (Rangers) dropped them for 2 weeks, but now the SFA bans them from representing their country for life.

A bit extreme? Or about time someone stood up to players? Could you imagine the English FA doing the same?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7981287.stm

Ferguson is a wee bam, as they say up here.

As they were disciplined and given a second chance after the escapades of the weekend, that their next misdemeanor followed so quickly that the SFA, quite rightly were furious - so there's and undoubted eemtional edge (anger) to the bans.

McGregor is a great young keeper, so it's a shame his ban is for life. Ferguson is in the twilight of his career, so it's not the same for him.

I can see McGregor eventually being brought back into the fold.

(EDIT) I saw the footage last night in the pub. If it was just one of them rubbing their face with two fingers it would have been unoticed. Pretty mild, prank - I assumed they had 'branished' the V signs

I Can't make my mind up about it. It was a very childish thing they did. Thats probably insulting kids, because a lot of kids wouldn't have done it.

Banning them for life does seem a bit harsh, especially McGregor as he's still fairly young.

Bit of an over-reaction from my point of view. A couple of verbal warning offences if even that. So what, they had a drink 3 days before a game and a camera caught them at an in-opportune moment when they were peed off. Woo bloody hoo...They are human. Give them a ban for a little while at most but to ban them for life...thats just wrong (and it aint just cos im a bluenose)

Rumours are rife that your manager might get rid of them too, seems unlikely but maybe they aren't all that irreplaceable?

It's looking like they have no future for either scotland or rangers now.

I think that if it has just been McGregor.....the punishment wouldn't be so harsh. Or McGregor and another player, rather than Barry Ferguson.

Rangers & Scotland have basically shot themselves in the foot by over-reacting.

Yes, suspend them for 2 weeks without pay, fair enough.

But ending their international careers? Hm. That is over reacting. Big time.

Just wait until Scotland need them...i'm sure they would reverse their decision!

Over-reacting?

Bollocks.

They let themselves and their country down by acting like petulant children in public.

Its about time some club stood up to these spoilt brats.
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They needed to be disciplined to try and curb their arrogance but life bans do seem a bit harsh - however i believe if burley leaves his post as manager in the future they will both be reinstated.

fact is neither will be missed for footballing reasons - mcgregor is over rated and no better than marshall of norwich or alexander at rangers - ferguson slows down the tempo of play in midfield that players such as brown and fletcher generate

Interesting today Burley came out to distance himself from the lifetime bans, stating that they were not his particular decision. Could this drive a further wedge between him and the SFA (one he can ill-afford to have..)? Hmm

I think it's because all the unhappy rangers fans are blaming him

Probably right. Now they know then only have Gordon Smith to blame - formerly one of their own of course.