GARY MCALLISTER has dismissed the hype surrounding Alfredo Morelos’ ‘cut-throat gesture’ at Celtic Park and insisted his behaviour has improved in the face of provocation from opposition players.
The Colombian was sent off in the final seconds of Rangers’ Old Firm win a fortnight ago and will miss the next three matches against Stranraer, St Mirren and Hearts.
Morelos has been at the centre of a storm regarding his ‘game over’ gesture and Ibrox assistant McAllister has defended his star striker after he was also sent off against Motherwell last month.
He said: “Prior to the two red cards in recent games, Alfredo’s discipline had been very good. He has certainly, certainly improved.
“It was visible. I think there is a lot of provocation towards Alfredo and when you watch games back and get the opportunity to watch them more closely there is quite a provocation. He’s a physical player and takes it as much as he gives it, he’s one of those players - it’s him and the centre backs and it is always going to be physical.
“The reaction with the sign? I’ve seen him make the sign two or three times before. Even when we come to the end of games in training sessions he’ll make that sign. It’s something he feels is ‘game over’ as in, it’s the end of the game. He did it against Midtjylland and we were six minutes over at Celtic and it was the end of the game - and some. I thought the referee put four minutes up and Alfredo was sent off at six-and-a-half minutes, so the game was over.”
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