BATTERED and bruised Nicolas Kuhn insists Ibrox defender Jefte was fortunate not to see red in last week’s derby confrontation.
The Brazilian left-back clearly caught Celtic’s German winger with a swinging left arm that caught him smack in the face.
Kuhn collapsed to the turf as blood erupted from his nose and required three minutes of onfield treatment before he could resume.
The flashpoint incident occurred just before the interval with the Hoops trailing 1-0 on their way to an alarmingly passive three-goal defeat in Govan.
GETTING THE ELBOW…Nicolas Kuhn is hit on the face by Jefte’s flailing left arm.
Jefte escaped with a yellow card from referee Don Robertson and VAR assistant Nick Walsh agreed the booking was sufficient punishment for decking an opponent.
Asked if Jefte should have walked, the 25-year-old forward said the home player’s initial foul should also have been taken into account.
Kuhn, speaking to the Scottish Daily Mail, said: “I’m not the VAR, but, yeah, there was also a kick.
“The situation, I don’t decide and we have to keep going. I didn’t realise what happened in the moment, so afterwards I didn’t know if it was yellow or anything else.
“I don’t know if it’s broken. It’s a little bit painful, but will be fine. I’m still a little bit dizzy, but, yeah, it’s going to be fine. The loss was more painful.”
BRUISED…Nicolas Kuhn displays the scars of battle at the media conference after his double strike in the 3-0 win over St Mirren.
The day after the game in Alex Gordon’s CQN column ‘Alex’s Angle’, the author stated: “Celtic may well have been within their rights to demand an explanation from the SFA after Nicolas Kuhn was hit flush of the face with a flailing arm from left-back Jefte.
“Blood spurting from the German’s snoot conclusively proved there had been contact on this occasion and the Brazilian was booked.
“It was obviously deemed reckless, but others could argue it was dangerous.”
Kuhn, still showing a bruise on his nose and the evidence of black eyes, stood up to be counted in the 3-0 win over St Mirren at Parkhead on Sunday when he netted a double to hoist his tally to 16 goals in an impressive campaign.
The champions are 13 points ahead as they prepare for tomorrow night’s visit of Dundee United while Philippe Clement’s side, who drew 3-3 at Hibs at the weekend, travel to Dens Park to face Dundee 24 hours later.
