Glasgow Rangers manager Michael Beale showed a level of integrity rarely seen on the football pitch during the Scottish Cup Round of 16 match against Partick Thistle FC.

Michael Beale and Ian McCallPhoto: Bruce White/Colorsport/Shutterstock Editorial/Profimedia

Janis Hagi, starting again for Rangers after almost 13 months out

Michael Beal asked the players to let their opponents score

In the 70th minute, the Rangers sent the ball off the field for Malik Tillman to receive medical attention. The visitors went on the edge and Kevin Hart tried to regain possession for the home side, but Tillman stole the ball as the defender tried to clear, rounded the keeper and scored to make it 2-1.

Players from both teams lined up in front of goal, but Michael Beale wasn’t too proud of the way his side scored and told his students to let their opponents score.

Scott Tiffoni took the ball from the middle and tied the score. Janis Hagi’s team won thanks to the success of James Sands (’86), 3-2.

Ian McCall, who was sacked as Partick Thistle manager, welcomed his colleague’s gesture: “I’ve been in football since 1981 and I’ve never seen anything like it before. Recently, class has kind of disappeared from football and in general, but today Michael Beal showed class. He reflects very well what this football club is and himself as a person.”

At the end of the game, Michael Beal insisted on explaining his decision: “It was the right thing to do. Malik Tillman is a fantastic young player and I didn’t want him to have that void in his head. He has never cheated anyone in his life and we have high standards as a football club. Despite everything I want to protect as a club and everything I want to protect as a person, I would not allow myself to leave it like this. Yes, it could have been risky, but we don’t want to win like that.”