Rangers defender fortunate to avoid red card in Celtic derby

Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez narrowly avoided a red card during the derby against Celtic due to it being "early" in the match.

This view was expressed by former Ibrox player Andy Halliday, who believes that referee John Beaton could have made a different decision at Celtic Park, where the Light Blues secured a 1-0 victory.

Fernandez received a booking within the first five minutes for bringing down Camilo Duran in the attacking third, and shortly after, he fouled Benjamin Nygren while already on a caution. However, Beaton chose to keep his cards in his pocket, allowing play to continue. Record Sport's referee expert Des Roache described the centre-back as "lucky" to remain on the pitch.

He stated: "Could easily have been a caution. Enough for a second yellow. Lucky to escape it. For me it's a clear foul and a cautionable offence. Therefore it’s a second yellow and a red card."

In a discussion on BBC Sportsound, Halliday provided a different perspective on Fernandez's situation: “See for me, he can’t have any complaints if he is given a second yellow card. I think when you watch it back - they kick it into each other, sometimes it’s a yellow, sometimes it isn’t. I think he is very lucky at that moment in time. The only thing that saved him is that it’s so early in the game and he is already on a booking. I think if that’s in the 80th minutes, I think that is a sending off.”

Conversely, former Celtic captain Scott Brown disagreed with Halliday's assessment. When asked if he viewed it as a second booking, he replied: “Yes, I am not going to lie. John Beaton is in a great position as well. That changes the game. It does."

Former Parkhead striker Chris Sutton echoed Brown's sentiments on Sky Sports, stating: “That’s reckless. He’s a lucky boy, he really is.”

Source: Daily Record