MARK Warburton has accepted a one match touchline ban from the SFA following his outburst at referee John Beaton at the end of the Rangers match against Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday.
Warburton was incensed when Beaton awarded the home team a free-kick in a dangerous area after Rangers right back James Tavernier had won the ball off Aberdeen striker Jonny Hayes with a legitimate tackle.
James Maddison netted from the resultant free-kick to secure a 2-1 victory for Derek McInnes’s side and lift them to second spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership table.
Warburton, whose side has won just two of their seven matches in the Premiership, will watch the game against Partick Thistle at Ibrox tomorrow from the stands.
The Englishman admitted that not being able to give his players instructions from the side of the park in the game against the Firhill club would be frustrating for him.
“The free-kick was never a free-kick,” he said. “But it is what it is. I won’t appeal. I’ve never had a touchline ban before. Never. But I’ll take the ban and move on. You just have to move on.
“It bothers me not being in the dugout, personally. Yes, you watch the game from the stand and it gives you perspective. I’m sure there are pluses and minuses to both sides. But I prefer, personally, to be in the dugout.
“Everyone is different. But I watch Arsene Wenger. I don’t ever see Arsene Wenger choosing to sit in the directors’ box. I don’t ever see Mauricio Pochettino or others doing it.
“It’s whatever suits you best. Personally, I like getting my message across to the players and seeing it up close, sensing what they’re sensing.”
Meanwhile, Warburton has admitted that he was disappointed a Development League match between Rangers and Hibs on Tuesday was abandoned.
First team players Matt Crooks, Joe Dodoo, Rob Kiernan and Philippe Senderos had all started in the game at Auchenhowie which was called off when lines-man Scott Love took unwell.
Rangers and referee David Dickinson were happy for the match to continue, but Hibs manager Eddie May refused to carry on and the game was cancelled.
“I was disappointed because I want players to develop,” said Warburton. “It wasn’t about the five boys we were getting back, you want development football and you want players to play.
“I’m not worried about the result or the three points. It’s about players developing. If you can get one or two through to play at this level, the vehicle for them to come through is that team.
“But it was disappointing when the game was called off and there was a qualified referee in the stand who was volunteering to do it.”
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