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Scottish Sun
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Raging Rangers star spotted BOOTING dugout during Panathinaikos game as little-known rule leaves him seething
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT was all smiles at full-time for Russell Martin and his players as he kicked off his Ibrox reign with a huge win over Panathinaikos last night. But the same can't be said for at least one of his players DURING the Champions League crunch qualifier clash. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 6 Russell Martin during the game against Panathinaikos Credit: Alamy 6 Nedim Bajrami wasn't happy when he was set to come on 6 He booted the dugout in anger after being denied on the pitch Nedim Bajrami was livid in the Rangers dugout before he was even subbed on by Martin in the second half at Ibrox. The Albanian playmaker was given a few minutes on the pitch at the end of the first leg as he replaced debutant Joe Rothwell in the dying moments when it was 2-0. He finally got his chance in the 86th minute after the substitution was denied TWICE by the officials. There was confusion in the home dugout as Bajrami pleaded with the fourth official after not being allowed on the pitch in a bizarre incident. There was an issue with the player's socks that the Lithuanian refereeing team weren't happy with. Bajrami continued the popular trend of cutting several holes in his socks to help improve circulation in his legs. The fourth official wasn't happy with the adjustments he made and ordered him to change the socks before allowing him to come on. Bajrami was left puzzled and furious after being ordered twice to change them, delaying his substitution. He took out his anger and frustration on the Rangers dugout as he was spotted booted the structure following chats on the touchline. The midfielder eventually came on the pitch with perfect socks in the end. It's unclear exactly what the issue was as both Nasser Djiga and goal-scorer Djeidi Gassama had several holes in their socks as well and were allowed on the pitch without any fuss. Bajrami did, however, appear to have a hole in the FRONT end of one sock which both Uefa and Fifa could have issue with. According to rules and regulations, the full front end of each sock must be untouched to ensure no shinguards are visible. 6 Djeidi Gassama with holes on his socks Credit: Alamy 6 Bajrami walking back to the dugout in rage 6 There was a small hole in the front end of his sock Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The National
22-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Bizarre moment Rangers sub blocked because of socks
The Albanian midfielder was lined up to replace Joe Rothwell in the closing stages of the Champions League tie against Panathinaikos. However, Bajrami would be prevented from taking to the pitch as fourth official Robertas Smitas stopped the substitution from going ahead. The fourth official blocked Bajrami's substitution (Image: Premier Sports) Premier Sports cameras picked up Bajrami's frustration at the intervention from the UEFA official as he returned to the bench to switch his socks. The issue appears to come down to the fact that Bajrami had cut holes in his socks. It has become increasingly popular to see professionals cut their socks in order to relieve pressure on the calf muscle. Russell Martin also engaged with the fourth official after having the sub stopped as he looked to introduce Bajrami to the action for the final minutes with [[Rangers]] leading 2-0. Bajrami would final enter the pitch moments later, after booting a bottle in frustration, wearing a fresh pair of socks. Read more: Commentator Rory Hamilton described the action: "Well, Bajrami was ready to come on but he's been turned away by the fourth official. "Something is not quite right with the change there. Russell Martin is now enquiring as to exactly why the winger wasn't able to come on. "Now Bajrami is ready. I think it was a problem with the socks, which are now okay." The issue was over holes cut in the player's socks (Image: Premier Sports) Neil McCann added: "He's not happy, he is ripping socks off and everything down there." Hamilton then continued: "Well, still the conversation goes on between Russell Martin and the fourth official. He is furious they can't get Nedim Bajrami on.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Are you 'really worried about season' or is 'exciting football ahead'?
We asked you for your views following Russell Martin's first game in charge as Rangers manager in Sunday's pre-season friendly against Club what some of you said:Anderson: Slow and somewhat steady from Martin, assuming these guys are first team ready. Would like to see the striker situation sorted, hopefully the Igamane money can fix that. Just don't waste it all on Main thing I noticed; why was the gaffer not wearing a suit? Hope we're not going to move away from that tradition as always looked very Thought we played better second half than first, we really need to get more players in ahead of the Panathinaikos Rangers were poor in the first half v Brugge but it was an improved display after the break. Substitute Bajrami in particular was very good. However, there's still loads of work to be It looks like Martin has given everyone a clean slate. Bajrami, Barron and Curtis grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Propper let it slip through his fingers. That's what pre-season friendlies are style of play was very clear and surprisingly, the team pulled it off very well. Exciting football ahead. We just need a decent Best not to over-analyse pre-season friendlies but Club Brugge are a very useful team with a solid European pedigree and they are a worthy opponent for Martin to start looking at players within the Rangers squadIt's so good to see Curtis getting a full game and a goal. I hope that is the last game we see Propper in a Rangers shirt as he symbolises everything that was wrong with the team last season - lack of commitment, weak mentality and no physical I'm really worried about this season. The signings have been so underwhelming. We Rangers fans appreciate the millions being spent but it looks like second and third hand sloppy players from English leagues. It's not the way Martin has a massive job to get rid of the deadwood who passed up their opportunity. We still look miles away from having a competitive squad. The first half was the all too familiar hard watch but a much improved second half avoided a damaging have got to get a lot better very quickly before we play Panathinaikos. Some clarification around Dessers and Igamane wouldn't hurt either.
Daily Record
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Six Rangers rights and wrongs from Russell Martin debut as Bajrami thrives but highwire act teeters on the brink
It was a far more encouraging second half showing but there are some aspects Rangers fans won't want to see again this season When Russell Martin named his first ever Rangers team for Sunday's friendly with Club Brugge - Ibrox punters had plenty of questions. But by the end of 90 minutes against the Belgians, which ended in a 2-2 draw, at least some of them were answered. It was a mixed bag for the new Gers gaffer at the weekend. After a ropey start which saw them go two goals down after 14 minutes, Martin 's men showed character to fight back. Goals from Mo Diomande and young Findlay Curtis gave the fans a bit of optimism ahead of the new campaign. It's still far too early to judge Martin or his side, especially with plenty of new signings still to come through the door. But with a Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos on July 22, the manager's got work to do. Sunday's game provided an insight into how he wants Rangers to play, who might surprise him - and who is surplus to requirements. Here, Record Sport looks at what went right and wrong for Martin in his Ibrox dug-out debut: RIGHT The comeback When Club Brugge scored their second goal to go 2-0 up after just 14 minutes, it looked like it could get seriously messy. The Belgians, who are a Champions League side, looked in the mood to cause some damage, while Rangers looked lost. If Martin's new boys didn't know about the expectations and demands here, being booed off at half-time in a bounce game would have made it abundantly clear. At that point, Gers could have gone into their shell and accepted a heavy defeat. After all, it was their first match after just two weeks' training under their new boss. But credit to them. The resilience, determination and personality they showed in the second half will have pleased the manager. Martin will have learned a lot about the mentality of certain players who - friendly or not - showed up in the second half to ensure Rangers didn't lose the game. And that will give him something positive to build on going forward. Plenty of Rangers fans might have thought the Albanian would be a player Martin might look to sell in this window. The 26-year-old didn't set the heather on fire last term after being signed for £3 million by ex-gaffer Philippe Clement. Too often, Bajrami looked laboured, dis-interested and not suited to Scottish football. But his performance off the bench on Sunday offered a bit of hope that he might actually have a future at Rangers. In the second half, he was the catalyst for a far better, more energetic display. When Bajrami arrived in Glasgow last summer, he'd barely had a pre-season after playing at Euro 2024 and then returning to Italian club Sassuolo knowing he was being sold. But here, he looked fitter and fresher. His technical ability has never been in doubt and maybe in Martin's system, Bajrami can flourish. He's got plenty of competition in the shape of new boys like Joe Rothwell, Lyall Cameron and Thelo Aasgaard - but he did himself no harm against Brugge. James Tavernier at centre-half There's so much speculation over what the Rangers captain's role will be under Martin this season after the arrival of right-back Max Aarons from Bournemouth. Will he become a bit-part player, only used in certain games? Will he be pushed further forward? But Sunday might just have given a glimpse of where Tavernier could be utilised at certain times in the campaign. When he was introduced at half-time as a centre-back, he gave his team a lift and impressed in the position. Suddenly, Rangers looked like they had someone at the back who actually knew what they were doing. He galvanised his team-mates and it was no coincidence that Aarons looked far more comfortable with Tavernier by his side. Martin has already added Manny Fernandez in that position. Conor Coady and Nasser Djiga could be next. And don't forget John Souttar who is on his way back. But if Martin needs cover - or if he goes with a back three in games - Tavernier has proved he can do a job there. WRONG The high press No-one expected Rangers players to be adept in Martin's style this early, especially after just two weeks' training. But right from the off on Sunday, you could see how high a defensive line he wants to deploy at Ibrox. Martin demands that his side go after opposition teams in their own half to win the ball back, with aggression and intensity. But after the first 10 minutes against Club Brugge, when they went a goal down, the set-up became ragged and disjointed. Martin said himself that his players got 'caught in-between' pressing and sitting off. Then, when Brugge broke on them he was annoyed that they weren't clever enough to commit a foul and stop their attacks. Occasionally, you could even see players slipping into their old habits of last season. If Martin is going to adopt those tactics, every player has to be on the same page. Otherwise, it looks a mess and you get caught out defensively because you've committed too many players forward without regaining possession. In the second half, they got some joy by hunting down a Brugge mistake which resulted in Diomande's goal. But Martin will know there's lots of work to do if they're going to master it. Central defence With Manny Fernandez just in the door, and Ben Davies and John Souttar injured - Martin didn't have too many options at the back on Sunday. That meant he was forced to go with a pairing of Leon King and Robin Propper - and it just didn't work. Both players' futures probably lie away from Ibrox and the club is expected to offload them in this window. Propper has been linked with a move back to Holland and with the likes of Conor Coady and Nasser Djiga being chased by Rangers, that might suit all parties. The Dutchman lacks pace and mobility, which is crucial in a Martin team that wants to defend high up the pitch. He had a hand in Brugge's first goal when he tried to step into midfield, lost the ball and left a huge gap behind him. King just hasn't fulfilled the potential he showed as a kid at Rangers when Europe's top clubs were after him. He might actually be better as a sitting midfielder but he has to go somewhere else and play games. After Sunday, Martin will know that neither of these two will be Gers starters this season. Kieran Dowell It's understandable that Martin would have been keen to give the midfielder a chance to shine after taking over at Ibrox. He will surely have heard good things about the 27-year-old from his old club Norwich City, where Dowell spent three years. He returned to Rangers after a successful loan stint at Birmingham in League One last term, so deserved an opportunity to impress his new manager. Dowell was deployed as one of Martin's attacking midfielders against Brugge and given licence to go and affect the game. But the truth is - just like much of his Ibrox career so far - he failed to make any sort of positive impression. In a poor first half on Sunday, Dowell was largely anonymous and struggled to impact proceedings. He looked unsure of himself in and around the box when Martin would have wanted to see him be decisive in creating chances or getting shots off. It hasn't worked for Dowell in Glasgow and with just a year left on his contract, it's hard to see a future for him at the club. With Joe Rothwell and Thelo Aasgaard coming into that area of the pitch at Rangers, his days are numbered. And Sunday's display did nothing to change that.
Scottish Sun
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers fans hail star as a ‘new man' after he plays key role in fightback against Club Brugge
His Ibrox career hasn't gone to plan so far but fans liked what they saw against the Belgians BOUNCE BAJ Rangers fans hail star as a 'new man' after he plays key role in fightback against Club Brugge RANGERS kicked off life under Russell Martin by coming from two goals down to draw with Club Brugge. And Gers fans have singled out one of their aces for praise for his starring role in the fightback. Advertisement 3 Rangers were 2-0 down to Club Brugge before Mohamed Diomande pulled one back Credit: Willie Vass 3 Findlay Curtis completed the comeback with a late equaliser Credit: Willie Vass 3 Gers fans have been full of praise for one of their stars for his performance Credit: PA Rangers trailed 2-0 at half-time in the friendly after goals from Hugo Vetlesen and Ludovit Reis for the visitors. But Mohamed Diomande pulled one back early in the first half, and Findlay Curtis sealed the comeback late on. It's not just the goalscorers that caught supporters' eyes though. Nedim Bajrami had a promising start to his first season at the club last year, but fell out of favour and ended up having a disappointing campaign. Advertisement Russell Martin turned to the Albanian off the bench though - alongside a full new XI - and he impressed, assisting the late Curtis equaliser after a long driving run. And fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to talk up the 26-year-old's performance. One fan said: "Nedim Bajrami was really good in that second half, deserves a huge amount of credit for the goal." Another commented: "Dare I say it, Bajrami has been excellent." Advertisement A third said: "Bajrami is going to surprise some people next season." And some supporters used the opportunity to highlight the role of his new manager. Rangers transfer special including Metinho chase, Rothwell latest and Igamane fee A fan said: "Definitely signs that under a good coach, Bajrami could be a player." Another posted: "Bajrami cooking? What a job Martin is doing." Advertisement Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
