Former Scotland midfielder Andy Halliday believes Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez was fortunate to stay on the pitch during Sunday’s Old Firm derby against Celtic.
Rangers defeated Celtic 1-0 at Parkhead to claim their second win over their rivals in a week and move within two points of the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Ryan Ndjieri scored the only goal of the match in the first half to give Rangers another important victory.
However, Fernandez was at the centre of one of the biggest talking points of the game.
The Nigerian defender had already received a yellow card in the fourth minute before he fouled Benjamin Nygren in the 16th minute.
Despite the foul, referee did not give Fernandez a second yellow card, meaning he stayed on the pitch and helped Rangers hold on for the win.
Halliday, speaking after the match, said Fernandez was lucky to escape a second booking.
“Could easily have been a caution. Enough for a second yellow. Lucky to escape it,” Halliday said, as reported by the Daily Record.
The former Rangers midfielder added that Fernandez would have had little reason to complain if he had been sent off.
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton also agreed with Halliday and described Fernandez as fortunate to avoid a red card.
“That’s reckless. He’s a lucky boy, he really is,” Sutton said.
Fernandez had a difficult start to the match but improved as the game went on and played his part as Rangers secured the victory.
The Nigerian defender will now turn his attention to international duty with the Super Eagles, who face Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers later this month.
Fernandez will hope to put the difficult start behind him and help Nigeria secure positive results in the qualifiers.
