Times Talker: Should Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday have been sent off against Morton?

Yes, by the letter of the law, says Stewart Fisher

THE law is the law, even if it is a daft law. And in Scotland in 2016 that means that a man can be sent off for celebrating a goal by shaking his fist at both the home fans and his own from a distance of 30 yards. 

Personally you or I might think the rules governing the behaviour of players in the heat of the moment are a bit over the top.

You might think that preventing our stars from giving a little bit back after taking 90 minutes of abuse seems a lop sided sense of justice and only serves to take a bit of joy and spontaneity from a sport which desperately needs it.

We might wonder if anyone would genuinely be offended by such actions, and ask whether referee Barry Cook and his assistant David McKniff might have applied common sense or looked the other way. But Police Scotland don't so much ask referees to crack down on such behaviour but insist that yellow cards in such situations are mandatory.

Therefore, Andy Halliday must have known he was taking a chance when he wandered back to his own half after the fine team goal from Barrie McKay which had given Morton a mountain to climb.

It came just four minutes after he had picked up his first yellow card, for petulantly hauling Declan McManus to the ground. As the dismissal was a result of two yellow cards, it cannot be overturned like the same player's dismissal against Hibs in late December.

But there is enough on the video to suggest that it wouldn't be in any case. Police Scotland would make sure of it.

In any case, this was a big win for Rangers, one that required them to roll their sleeves up and battle for everything. While Dominic Ball could slot into the Halliday role against Falkirk on Saturday, their squad isn't big enough for key personnel to pick up pointless suspensions.

It was harsh and Rangers are right to be upset, says Chris Jack

THERE are few worse rules in our game than the one that says you can be booked for celebrating a goal. It is closely followed by the one that states you cannot appeal a red card if you have received two yellows.

That is the situation Rangers and Andy Halliday find themselves in, though, after the midfielder was sent off against Morton on Monday night. It was a decision that infuriated Gers fans and left boss Mark Warburton ‘bemused’ and ‘frustrated’ in the aftermath of the 2-0 win.

There was confusion as referee Barry Cook sent Halliday off just seconds after Barrie McKay had doubled Rangers’ lead and all-but clinched a crucial win for Warburton’s side. As the incident became clearer, there was disbelief inside Cappielow and then anger in the Light Blues ranks.

Boss Warburton confirmed after the game that Halliday had been ordered off for making an ‘offensive gesture’ towards the Morton fans as he celebrated McKay’s goal.

Yes, his arms were raised, but so what? He was in the middle of the park and walking towards his own supporters.

He didn’t exactly run along the touchline shouting at and goading the Ton crowd. Halliday didn’t go out to incite people or cause trouble, he just got caught up in a significant moment for his side.

It was one of the softest bookings you will see all season as common sense once again went out the window in Scottish football.

Unlike when he saw his red against Hibs correctly overturned, unfortunately for Halliday there is no route of appeal this time around so he will have to sit in the stand for the visit of Falkirk this weekend.

The bizarre and controversial call didn’t cost Rangers at Cappielow as they held out to move five points clear in the title race. Now Warburton must hope it doesn’t have an impact at Ibrox on Saturday as he faces the prospect of being without one of his key men for a huge Championship clash.