Livingston captain Marvin Bartley felt referee Nick Walsh shouldn't have been so quick to dish out a red card to Callum McGregor.
The Celtic midfielder saw red for a second booking when he caught Glen Kamara late.
The referee correctly played advantage before going back and showing McGregor his second yellow card.
And while the Livi skipper accepts the challenge may have warranted a booking, he feels the nature of a Rangers vs Celtic clash should have come into Walsh's thinking.
Bartley said on Go Radio: "I'm a man who has put a few tackles in in my time!
"I think sometimes in a derby the referee has to realise the magnitude of the game.
"I'm not saying it has to change the rules but I definitely believe the second one he could have just said to him, 'listen, that's your final one'.
"But by the letter of the law maybe the referee has got it right.
"I just think in a derby game you should maybe get away with one.
"You don't want to endanger players either but I don't think Kamara 's in any danger.
"Yes it was a late tackle, Rangers went on to score and I think that was enough of a punishment if I'm being totally honest.
"I think the referee could have said, 'that's your last one' and that's it."
