There is an unwritten rule in football that is always, or almost always, fulfilled: when a team intentionally throws the ball out, usually so that a player can be seen by doctors, the rival team returns the ball to him in the next move. This situation, common in a match, occurred in the Scottish Cup duel between Rangers FC and Partick Thistle, but a misunderstanding led to a different development of events and ended with a great sporting gesture from the Protestant club.
Malik Tillman was left on the ground after suffering an involuntary but painful stomp on his right leg from Milne and a Rangers player sent the ball beyond the limits of the pitch for his team-mate to be treated. Now recovered, the American returned to the pitch and when Holt was about to return the ball, with a long ball from his field, the striker stole possession, went to the goal, dribbled past the goalkeeper and advanced his team in the minute 72 (2-1).
The Partick Thistle players confronted Tillman, who didn't seem to understand what had happened. After several minutes of bewilderment, of explanations between players and coaches, the Rangers coach, Michael Beale, decided that his pupils should let themselves score a goal to correct the injustice. Without any opposition from the players in blue, the visiting team took a cross and Tiffoney drove the ball until scoring on an empty goal, only with a slight defense from the goalkeeper.
The goalscorer was substituted after the goal and Partick Thistle manager Ian McCall approached his counterpart to shake hands and thank him for his fair play. Once the misunderstanding was settled and again with the score tied (2-2), the game resumed and Rangers finally imposed their theoretical superiority over the Second Division team. Sands scored the goal in the 86th minute that qualified the Protestant team for the quarterfinals of the Cup (3-2).
