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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
David Irvine

Steven Gerrard Rangers criticism of Ryan Porteous resurfaces after Scotland red card

As Ryan Porteous was given his marching orders in the Euro 2024 opener against Germany for a horror challenge on Ilkay Gundogan, Steven Gerrard's comments on the former Hibs defender began to resurface on social media.

The former Rangers boss previously called out tackles on Lassana Coulibaly and Joe Aribo from the Scotland internationalist while he was in charge at Ibrox.

Porteous was handed a starting role by Steve Clarke for Scotland in Munich but was dismissed in the first-half after a VAR review for his lunge on Gundogan as he desperately attempted to stop a third goal.

The defender did clear the ball but also clearly connected with real force on Gundogan's ankle leaving referee Clement Turpin with little choice but to point to the penalty spot and produce a red card.

Scotland hero Willie Miller stated the tackle left him feeling sick as he branded the challenge "horrible".

On BBC, Miller said: "You're not going to win the ball with a tackle, you've got to try and block it.

"He should be trying to make himself big and be a block rather than a tackle.

"What he's actually done is combine the scissor challenge with an over the top into the ankle, it's horrendous and makes you feel a bit sick.

"Gundogan is lucky because his studs are in the ground and he's fortunate they bounce up when the tackle goes in, otherwise it's a snap. It's horrible. It's a horrible challenge."

Miller's comments are not dissimilar to those made by Gerrard on Porteous' tackling, in particular after a 2-1 victory for Rangers against Hibs where the defender was sent off for a lunge on Aribo.

Gerrard said at the time: "There are a couple of things on this. I know one or two things about bad tackles because I have made a few myself so I am not in a glass house here.

"It's a wild tackle, it's a leg-breaking tackle if he catches him.

"The kid only has to play the ball, I don't know why there is any reason he wants to go in with that intent.

"And it's the second time he has done it against us because he done it against Lassana Coulibaly not so long ago so the kid obviously is not learning.

"He has let his manager and his team-mates down today but that is obviously Jack's business.

"There is no defending a tackle like that because the speed of it, the height of it and the force...it doesn't belong on a football pitch.

"I've had to learn over the years myself as a player from those types of moments of madness, hopefully the kid learns."

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