Michael Stewart’s comments on the red card that saw Rangers reduced to 10 men were utterly baffling.
Celtic were in control of the game as Johnny Kenny’s bullet header put the Hoops in front.
Martin O’Neill’s men looked streets ahead of their rivals and were given an extra boost as Rangers midfielder Thelo Asgaard was given his marching orders for a high challenge on Anthony Ralston.
Replays showed that the Norway international had cut a hole in the right-back’s shorts, as well as a cut at the top of his leg.
Despite this, Stewart made an extraordinary claim about the dismissal.
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Michael Stewart says Rangers red card wasn’t malicious
Nobody could argue that the red card was the right call, however, Stewart claimed that there was no aggressive intent from the Rangers attacker, even though his foot was clearly high in the replays back.
Speaking live on Premier Sports, he said: “The initial reaction is it’s a sore one.
“There is plenty of force, it’s high on the thigh.
“I can see why Nick Walsh has given it, but there is no malice in it.”
As for Pat Bonner, he stated that Aasgaard was ‘naive’ on BBC Radio Scotland.
Bonner added: “It is a huge blow for Rangers. It is a bit naive. It was good technical play, but when you are stretching for the ball and go into the player, the referee has no choice.”
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