Victor Wanyama sent off in nightmare first match back in Scottish football

2025-03-29 10:56:34

Victor Wanyama's highly anticipated return to Scottish football took an unexpected turn as his Dunfermline debut ended prematurely with a red card, casting a shadow over Neil Lennon's first match in charge.

The former Celtic and Tottenham midfielder, brought on as a second-half substitute, faced a difficult reintroduction to life in the Scottish Championship.

The Kenyan joined his former Celtic boss Lennon in the second tier on a free transfer earlier this week, a move dubbed by football fans as "one of the most random transfers ever."

After trailing 1-0 after half-time, Wanyama was introduced shortly after the hour mark, but the midfielder was sent off just 21 minutes later for a handball outside the box, denying Ayr United's Mark McKenzie a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

While Ayr United capitalised with further goals from Jamie Murphy and Ethan Walker, the focus inevitably fell on Wanyama's unfortunate debut.