Indirectly or not, Morelos’ red card now looks so costly

THE flailing elbow of Alfredo Morelos didn’t do much damage to Scott Brown. But it could have financial implications for Rangers. Until that red card at Parkhead, the expectation was that the Colombian would go this summer. Not only would he go, but he would go for big money. As Brown crumpled to the deck, then, you could almost see chairman Dave King putting his head in his hands. Listen, if Morelos sticks around it suits supporters fine. The guy knows the way to goal and they worship the ground he walks on. Yet this week Rangers suffered a reverse in their long-running retail battle with Sports Direct. And it could cost them a sizeable sum of money. Judge Lionel Persey QC ruled that Mike Ashley’s firm should have been given the chance to match the terms of a shirt deal struck with Elite/Hummel. Rangers now face paying Sports Direct compensation for loss of income in seasons 18/19 and 19/20 after the judge found Ibrox company secretary James Blair “unconvincing” in his evidence and “untruthful”. It’s not clear whether Blair was acting negligently under his own steam by keeping Sports Direct in the dark over the terms of the contract. Or merely following orders. That the whole mess could end up costing Rangers a fortune in damages and lawyer’s fees seems beyond dispute. It won’t be Eintracht Frankfurt. But there’s still time for a club to make up the shortfall by paying big bucks for the bold Alfredo yet. And if they don’t? That red card at Parkhead will begin to look an expensive business.