Rangers will not be able to call upon Dorin Goian for the second leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie with Malmo.

Club officials tried and failed to register Goian with the SFA and UEFA in time for Monday's additional player deadline, with a delay in the defender's work permit application ending his hopes of featuring.

The signing from Palermo would be free to play in the SPL as soon as his work permit and accession card are granted.

But Rangers must wait to field him in Europe, with the first opportunity for him to feature coming in the play-off round of either the Champions League or Europa League.

"Even though the process was initiated prior to the deadline, the registration at national level was not completed by this deadline," a UEFA official confirmed to STV.

"The player cannot therefore be registered and is not eligible for the third qualifying round."

Rangers manager Ally McCoist and Goian himself had been making positive noises about being able to play next Wednesday, as the SPL side aim to overturn a one goal deficit.

In a twist, Goian was registered by Palermo by last Thursday's conventional deadline for their participation in the Europa League third qualifying round.

Rangers may have been hopeful then of convincing UEFA to transfer that European registration across but the governing body put paid to that possibility.

"Registrations are not transferred from one club to another," they confirmed.

"Players are transferred, then registered with the national association of the country where their new club is playing, and finally registered with us by their new club to play in a European competition."