Rangers Manager Russell Martin Sent Off During Middlesbrough Friendly

Rangers manager Russell Martin was sent off during a pre-season friendly against Middlesbrough after angrily protesting a denied penalty for an apparent handball by Middlesbrough's Luke Ayling. The red card forced Martin to watch the second half from the gantry above the dugout, a situation he described as providing a "good view" of the match. Following the game, Martin apologized to the officials and expressed surprise at the dismissal, stating he probably overstepped the mark due to his passion and frustration with the team's first-half performance. Despite going two goals down, Rangers rallied in the second half with goals from Danilo and Findlay Curtis to secure a 2-2 draw. Martin's side is preparing for a crucial midweek Champions League qualifier return leg against Panathinaikos, holding a 2-0 aggregate lead. The incident has sparked debate about Martin's touchline ban ahead of Rangers' Premiership opener, but he remains unconcerned and hopes the matter is resolved promptly.