Pedro swerves referee debate

RANGERS boss Pedro Caixinha will not push his luck with referees by adding further f uel t o t he fire following his side’s defeat to Hibs.

The Gers manager was unhappy with t he way whistler John Beaton handled last week’s dramafilled 3-2 loss.

Beaton sparked an outcry at Ibrox when he sent off Ryan Jack for aiming an alleged headbutt at Anthony Stokes — a decision since overturned on appeal.

The Light Blues faithful were also angry that Stokes did not follow Jack down the tunnel following his part in the rammy and an earlier clash with James Tavernier.

Almost 7,500 of them have now signed a petition demanding an end to “anti-Rangers views amongst referees in Scotland”.

Caixinha, though, is keen to stay away from t he debate on the standard of the nation’s officials.

He said: “I did comment after the game.

“Now I have nothing else to say to that.

“The only thing I can tell you regarding to the referees is that normally I am the first one to defend them and understand how difficult it is to do their job.

“I don’t want to push no one. I know that at all times we have three teams on the pitch — one of them is the referees and they are going to do their very best for sure.

“We j ust need t o be focused on our emotional balance and our tasks as a team.”

Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha.