Rangers' Andy Halliday Given Bizarre 2nd Yellow Card for Celebration vs. Morton

Rangers went five points clear at the top of the Scottish Championship with a 2-0 win over Morton on Monday night, but the match has been overshadowed by a bizarre red card for the visitors' Andy Halliday.

Halliday received a second yellow card for his celebration of Barrie McKay's second goal after 70 minutes when he gestured—rather innocuously—towards the Morton fans, reported Stephen McGowan of the Scottish Daily Mail.

Rangers boss Mark Warburton was in agreement that the dismissal was on the harsh side.

"I've been told that the player was sent off for making an offensive gesture which had incited the Morton fans," he said. "I'm sure you've all seen it. We've all seen it."

"The player made that fatal mistake of celebrating the second goal. It was scandalous behaviour on his part," he joked. "We will look at it and say all he has done is shown his passion for the game and passion for the club. We scored a second goal and you have to enjoy it."

"We have watched it from every angle and we are bemused and frustrated, whatever adjective you want to use," he said. "That's how we feel right now."

To make matters worse, his club will not be able to appeal because the 24-year-old was not shown a straight red.

"We have lost an important player to a second yellow and you can't appeal for what we find the most frustrating decision," Warburton said.

[Scottish Daily Mail]