Former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson and ex-Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew criticised referee John Beaton after Emmanuel Fernandez was controversially booked during Rangers’ 2-1 loss at Tynecastle.

Former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson and ex-Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew have criticised referee John Beaton after defender Emmanuel Fernandez was controversially booked during Rangers’ 2-1 defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle Park.

Fernandez was shown a yellow card in the 80th minute while Rangers were chasing the game after he challenged Hearts striker Claudio Braga.

Commentators and pundits were united in their view that the tackle was clean, with Fernandez appearing to make clear contact with the ball and showing minimal follow-through.

“He has won the ball clearly there, Fernandez. I don’t know what John Beaton is seeing here. John Beaton, talk to me. Rangers are on the attack there,” Ferguson said.

“Honestly, that’s a tackle you would love your defender to make. That’s unreal. That’s mad. Rangers are on the attack, and then it changes the whole momentum,” Mulgrew added.

The result left Rangers seven points behind the William Hill Premiership leaders, with every momentum shift in the closing stages of the season carrying added significance.

Rangers had taken the lead in the first half through Dujon Sterling and appeared to be in control of the contest.

However, the introduction of Blair Spittal at half-time shifted the balance of the game, while second-half goals from Stephen Kingsley and Lawrence Shankland secured victory for Hearts.

Fernandez, who joined Rangers from Peterborough United, has been one of the club’s standout performers this season. The defender earned his first senior call-up to the Nigerian national team, was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year, and also won Rangers’ Men’s Player of the Year award.