Scottish football giants Rangers gifted a goal to Partick Thistle in a sensational moment during their 3-2 Scottish Cup win.
Thistle’s players were left apoplectic at Ibrox on Sunday when Rangers player Malik Tillman put his side 2-1 ahead in dubious circumstances deemed unsportsmanlike.
Shortly before, Tillman had gone down injured and Rangers kicked the ball out of play to allow him to be treated.
On the restart in the 71st minute Partick appeared to be set to sportingly give back the ball to their opponents by passing an uncontested ball towards the Rangers defence but before they could do that Tillman, showing no sign of injury, nipped in to gain possession and advance forward and score.
After a melee involving virtually every player on the pitch, the game re-started with Rangers, after instructions from their manager Michael Beale, then allowing Thistle’s Scott Tiffoney to go through unopposed to make it 2-2.
Rangers eventually snatched the win late on when James Sands’ header crossed the line.
Beale was adamant later that Tillman, on loan from Bayern Munich, was completely innocent of unsporting play as he was unaware of the situation.
He said: “Malik gets injured and we play the ball out, Malik is down on the floor and he doesn’t see that we have played the ball out.
“So by the time Malik gets up, he sees they have a throw-in and he puts his hand up to the referee as if to say, ‘how have they got a throw?’ and then he presses as he has been taught.
“He is completely unaware of the situation, of what has happened. I had to speak to my bench to make sure that is what they saw as well. Malik came over and I spoke to him and he confirmed it.
“So it (allowing Thistle to level) was the right thing to do. I will tell you why it was the right thing to do. Malik Tillman is a fantastic young player and I don’t want that hanging around his head.”
Although unrelated, Thistle later sacked their coach Ian McCall who earlier said he did not believe Tillman was aware he was being unsporting.
“I don’t think Malik Tillman knew what he was doing. I think he got mixed up and put it in the net,” he said.
“Michael Beale showed an awful lot of class, so did James Tavernier to do what they did. It was the right to do so there’s no blame on anybody, not even the ref. I’ve been involved in the game since 1981 – I’ve never seen it before.”
The rare moment brought back memories of an English FA Cup tie in 1988-89 when Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger agreed to a replay after Kanu scored a goal in similar circumstances as the Gunners beat Sheffield United 2-1.
Newshttps://www.theroar.com.au/2023/02/13/never-see-it-before-incredible-act-of-sportsmanship-evens-out-shockingly-cynical-moment/‘Never see it before’: Incredible act of sportsmanship evens out shockingly cynical moment
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