Fraser Wishart says Ferguson and McGregor have been failed by the SFA

Players' union chief Fraser Wishart says Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor found out their Scotland careers were over as they listened to the radio.

"Nobody contacted the players and I think they were due that courtesy," Wishart told BBC Scotland.

Ferguson and McGregor apologised for their actions following a late-night drinking session at a Scotland hotel.

"We've all made mistakes and I'm of the view that you should be given a second chance," added Wishart.

The players' chief said the criticism Ferguson and McGregor have received, since they were photographed making V-signs on the bench during the Iceland game, has been over the top.

And he expressed disappointment that no-one at the Scottish Football Association had contacted the duo ahead of their punishment.

The players found out via radio bulletin that they no longer had a Scotland career - on their way to a disciplinary meeting at Rangers Fraser Wishart, SPFA

"The players have been big enough themselves to hold up their hands immediately to apologise to Scotland manager George Burley," said Wishart.

"We have to draw a line under this somewhere and we're getting to that stage. How long do we kick people when they're down?"

Wishart said the lack of communication between the players and the SFA was a source of frustration.

"One of the things that really disappointed myself and the players was that they found out via a radio bulletin that they no longer had a Scotland career - on their way to a disciplinary meeting at Rangers," he said.

"So, I think there were one or two things that could've been handled better."

The union chief said the players had not been able to discuss the situation with anyone within the Scotland hierarchy.

"They've not had the opportunity to sit down and discuss what went on in Wednesday night's game," he said.

Ferguson and McGregor have been told their Scotland careers are over

"Sunday (the drinking session) was dealt with by the manager, quite rightly.

"He's in charge of team matters and he got a fantastic victory, which, I think, has been lost in all of this.

"If you look at the quotes in the papers on Friday, (SFA chief executive) Gordon Smith said: 'we consider this matter closed' but (SFA president) George Peat then says he wants to know everything and wants to know why the players made the gestures.

"Nobody will ever know, now, what went on in the heads of the players because this action has been taken.

"As we speak, no-one at the SFA has contacted the players."

Ferguson has been stripped of the Rangers captaincy and both he and McGregor were fined two weeks' wages and suspended for a fortnight.

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