The defender was dismissed at Ibrox in a manner that prompted then-Gers assistant boss McCoist to reach out to him after the game.
Charlie Mulgrew was sent off following a clash with Kyle Lafferty
Charlie Mulgrew has praised former Rangers assistant boss Ally McCoist for his reaction to the controversial red card that the defender received during a game at Ibrox seven years ago, The Scottish Sun reports.
The 30-year-old – at the time, playing for Aberdeen – was dismissed in the 18th minute on the penultimate day of the 2008/09 season after a challenge from Kyle Lafferty saw the two briefly square up before the Gers striker threw himself to the ground in theatrical fashion in an attempt to convince the referee that he had been headbutted.
The plan worked as Mulgrew was sent off. With the game still goalless, Madjid Bougherra would also be sent off before two goals shortly after the hour-mark helped the Gers to a 2-1 win. Despite the victory, Mulgrew’s early departure emerged as the main talking point.
While there was some contact, it had been minimal, and it was, in fact, the Northern Irishman that appeared to move his head towards the man who would go on to make over 130 league appearances for their Old Firm foes, Celtic.
Mulgrew would go on to spend several years at Celtic
And while he appears to still hold some bitterness towards Lafferty’s actions, he explained how McCoist’s reaction following the game saw the Light Blues hero go up in his estimation.
“It was embarrassing for him and he knows it, to be fair to him I think he’s said that a few times now. You know what, though, on the way back up to Aberdeen on the bus I got a call from Ally McCoist apologising on behalf of Lafferty and the club,” he told The Scottish Sun.
“I thought that showed a bit of class.”
Former Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist
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