Watch as 'silly' referee flashes red card at Gers boss in bizarre women's Old Firm incident

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There is something about the derby that seems to bring the worst out of those who don the SFA badge on their chest and are tasked with restoring order to the chaos of the derby.

Controversy is never far away but there was a moment of madness in the women's Sky Sports Cup semi-final tie between the bitter Old Firm rivals, a trophy that they won last season.

Jo Potter has an outstanding cup record since joining Rangers, however, in a long and hugely successful career, she will never have seen anything like what referee Abbie Hendry did.

Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

Jo Potter sent off in bizarre incident as Rangers beat Celtic

With Rangers 2-0 up and in control, the ball went out for a throw-in to Potter's side, and the manager displayed some fancy footwork by balancing the ball on her foot before flicking it up into her hands.

A Celtic player tried to take the ball off the Gers boss, so she circled it behind her back before handing it to Lizzie Arnot to take.

Whilst the fourth official was speaking to Potter, Hendry ran over and dramatically flashed the red card – Arnot’s initial reaction was to laugh, and understandably so.

What did Potter say about the incident?

Potter, it's safe to say, is far from happy, as told to Rangers TV:

“Apparently I held the ball behind my back,” Potter said. “I think she’s got it wrong.”

“I didn’t hold the ball behind my back, I twisted it round my back. It was our throw-in, I’m not sure why I can’t hold the ball on our throw-in to give the ball to my own player.

“So, I’ll maybe wait for an explanation. If we’re ever going to get one, I’m not too sure. But we’ll see where that one goes.

“I looked towards the fourth official and she was saying ‘at most, it’s a yellow. It’s not a red card.’ The ref obviously disagreed because she’d got the card out of her pocket very quickly. She looks a bit silly if she puts it back in and changes it.”

It's not quite a disallowed goal or failed penalty award that the men's team have battled against in recent derbies, but it's one that even those of a green and white persuasion would struggle to justify.

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