Smith hopes clubs will follow Rangers' example in fining players who cheat

Rangers have been praised for their swift response to Kyle Lafferty feigning injury against Aberdeen by the Scottish Football Association.

The Ibrox club criticised 21-year-old Lafferty on Saturday and fined him for simulating being headbutted by Charlie Mulgrew, who was then sent off.

SFA chief Gordon Smith said: "A great deal of credit should go to Rangers for the manner in which they have acted.

"I hope this sets a precedent among clubs as how to deal with simulation."

Rangers also posted an apology from Lafferty on their website.

Aberdeen director of football Willie Miller had called for the SFA to severely punish Lafferty and back up Smith's long-standing intention to clamp down on cheating.

The chief executive said: "I appreciate Willie Miller's recognition that I've tried to address the subject of cheating in football since I came into the Scottish FA job.

"It's not been easy getting the message across that it should be discouraged and eliminated in every event.

We all know and understand that simulation has no place in Scottish football SFA chief executive Gordon Smith

"I would see it as real progress if clubs started to react to such behaviour when perpetrated by their own players. This would, in my opinion, clean up the game very quickly.

"From Willie Miller's comments I feel he would now react in the same way if an Aberdeen player was ever guilty of such behaviour.

"We all know and understand that simulation has no place in Scottish football."

The SFA has announced Lafferty has been referred to a review panel, which will meet on Friday, to determine his involvement in the red card, which itself will be considered by the panel.

The review panel is made up of a former player, manager and referee.

Any suspension of Lafferty would not take place until next season as the matter must first be referred to the next meeting of the SFA disciplinary committee.

It will be the first time the SFA has taken such action, invoking the same rule that led European governing body Uefa to punish Lithuania's Hearts midfielder Saulius Mikoliunas for diving in a game against Scotland.

Lafferty could be given a similar two-match suspension.

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