Glasgow Rangers may not sign senior players for a year and its owner has been banned for life from any involvement in Scottish soccer.

The record 54-time Scottish champion went into administration -- a form of bankruptcy protection -- in February with tax debts of 9 million pounds (then $14 million) accrued following Craig Whyte's takeover last May. The Scottish Football Association has labeled him as ''not a fit and proper person'' to be involved in the sport.

A disciplinary tribunal found Whyte in breach of two disciplinary rules between May 6, 2011, and March 6, 2012 and fined him 200,000 pounds ($320,000). The one-year transfer embargo was placed on the club after it was found to have breached five disciplinary rules in the same period. The ban excludes signing players under the age of 18.

''I am surprised at how harsh the SFA have been on a club which is going through tough times at the moment,'' Whyte said. The team may be forced into liquidation if a new owner isn't found in the next few weeks.