A RANGERS whizkid amazed fans with his reaction as he was carried off with a sickening head injury.
TNT Sports declined to show replays of Bailey Rice getting hurt during an astonishing Europa League quarter-final tie with Athletic Bilbao.
Rapturous round of applause, and wishing all the best to Rangers' Bailey Rice, after he was stretchered from the field after a lengthy delay following a collision with an Athletic Club player 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/ICDfTF8YeF
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 10, 2025
ReutersBailey Rice was able to applaud fans as he was carried off[/caption]
Rice was hurt midway through the second period in only his second gameRex
The midfielder, making only his second senior appearance, needed lengthy treatment midway through the second period.
He was eventually taken off on a stretcher – as applause rang all round Ibrox from both sets of supporters.
Rice’s head was in a brace but he managed to raise his hands to clap fans back.
And the gesture touched the heart of viewers.
One posted: “Brought a tear to my eye Bailey Rice on a stretcher and obviously in difficulties and still managed to clap the fans.”
Most fans welcomed TNT’s decision not to replay the incident in which the starlet suffered his injury.
One wrote: Good work by the broadcasters for not showing replays of those injuries to Bailey Rice. Hope it is not too serious.”
A few viewers queried TNT not showing it.
GettyThe midfielder had his head in a brace as he went off on a stretcher[/caption]
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But other fans quickly hit back in support of the broadcaster.
One asked: “Why would u want to see it again? Was obviously bad.”
A second said: “Must be a bad one? Can’t be showing it again.”
And a third fan explained: “They don’t if it’s a bad one usually and they wait to see if the player is ok.”
Rice’s misfortune cast a shadow over a night where Rangers defied the surging odds against them to claim a first-leg draw.
Robin Propper had an early yellow card upgraded to red after VAR intervened.
Rangers clung on, only to lose Rice and then survive double drama soon after.
Athletic sub Alex Berenguer had a goal ruled out after a lengthy VAR check for offside.
But the Video Assistant also helped referee István Kovács award a penalty for handball against defender Dujon Sterling.
However, Rangers’ keeper Liam Kelly – called up in place of Jack Butland – thwarted Berenguer from the spot.
And Barry Ferguson’s home side even ended the contest with nine men as Sterling went off crocked after all five subs had been used.
Hero Kelly told TNT Sports: “I never actually had much to do in the game. Once we went down to 10 men the guys in front of me were absolutely brilliant.
“We didn’t really know what was happening [after Bilbao scored] and then all of a sudden you hear penalty.
“I just wanted to help the team, I don’t really care about me.”
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