JOEY Barton is reportedly facing an SFA investigation into claims that he broke player betting rules.

The Gers midfielder was suspended by the Ibrox club for three weeks yesterday for his part in a training ground row with teammate Andy Halliday and manager Mark Warburton, but now faces allegations of illicit betting.

The Scottish Sun revealed that a source told them 'an investigation has been launched' after a high street bookmakers claimed the 34-year-old placed a bet on a match, breaching SFA rules.

Disciplinary Rule 22 states that: “No club, official, Team Official or other member of Team Staff, player, match official or other person under the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA shall bet in any way on a football match.”

The Daily Record believe that Barton put money on Celtic to lose by three goals or more against Barcelona in last week's Champions League match, which ended in a 7-0 defeat for Brendan Rodgers' side.

It is understood that the Gambling Commission will take charge of the investigation and report their findings to the SFA before compliance officer Tony McGlennan decides if any punishment should be handed out to Barton.