BRAGA manager Carlos Carvalhal slammed French referee Francois Letexier for sending off his centre half Vitor Tormenia in the first-half of the Europa League quarter-final with Rangers at Ibrox.

Carvalhal, whose team lost 3-1 after extra-time and lost 3-2 on aggregate, branded the decision to red card Tormenia for a foul on Kemar Roofe just before half-time as “ridiculous”.

But the Portuguese coach congratulated Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team on their victory and insisted their chances of beating RB Leipzig and reaching the final were “50-50”.

“Firstly, congratulations for Rangers,” he said. “I wish them all the best for the semi-final.

“We did see Rangers against Celtic and Rangers did exactly the same thing tonight as they did in that game. They started well and scored very early. We were expecting that.

We should give credit to Rangers. They started well and pressed. After that, we were calm. We were a good game, even with 10 men, even with nine men.

“The referee was poor in my opinion. The red card was ridiculous. There was the same situation with one of our players in extra-time. I believe the Rangers player should have the same punishment. I do believe we have been prejudiced by referees tonight.

“We pushed the game until extra-time. The third goal was crucial. If the rules were like before then a goal away would take us to the next round.

“We played against a team with tremendous momentum and we struggled with it for sure. At the very end of the match our plan was not to concede a goal and try to score and we did it.

“We should give credit to Rangers. They did exactly the same against Celtic. They started well and scored an early goal. The great difference between the Celtic match and ours was we played with 10 men. I am sad with the result, but I am extremely proud of my players.

Asked about Rangers’ chances of winning the Europa League, Carvalhal said: “The team that plays in the semi-final have chances. It will be 50-50 for all teams.

“This leg was 50-50. Rangers dominated here, we dominated last week. All these games at this stage are 50-50 in my opinion. I wish the best to Glasgow Rangers. I really believe it is 50-50.”