Rangers were knocked out of Europe yesterday as stupidity played a blinder at the Ennio Tardini Stadium. Ironically it was the Scottish team's own Italians, rather that Parma's, who were the biggest problem.

Rangers began their descent into ignominy when the defender Sergio Porrini was sent off a few seconds before the interval.

His fellow Italian and Rangers' captain Lorenzo Amoruso, produced an even greater aberration later when he deliberately handled the ball in an unthreatening position to give the Parma a penalty.

Until they equalised early in the second half, Parma had looked unlikely to capitalise on having the most accomplished player on view in Juan Sebastian Veron. The Argentinian's prompting had produced little response from his strikers.

Jorg Albertz gave Rangers the lead in the 28th minute. Roberto Sensini's nonchalant pass was directed straight at Albertz, who moved forward, shrugged off Sensini and drove a low, left-foot shot from the edge of the area to the left of Gianluigi Buffon.

With Rangers' primary objective achieved - they had to score to survive - they took the heat out Parma's attacks. But Porrini, having been booked only two minutes earlier for a foul on Veron, launched a late challenge on the same player and was sent off for his second bookable offence. The 10 men held out for only three minutes of the second half.

Veron again initiated the damage, delivering a tantalising centre from the right that Colin Hendry and Amoruso miscalculated, the ball dropping behind them to Enrico Chiesa. The striker headed across and Balbo tapped in.

Rangers could do little to prevent the 62nd-minute goal which gave Parma the lead. Veron's free-kick was headed out by Albertz to Stefano Fiore and he drove ferociously from 20 yards high to the left of Antti Niemi.

Then, five minutes later, came Amoruso's needless blunder. Chiesa took the penalty, sliding it low to the left of Niemi.

Parma: Buffon, Thuram, Sensini, Cannavaro, Fuser (Mussi 84), Baggio, Boghossain (Fiore 56), Bennarivo, Veron, Balbo, Chiesa (Crespo 74). Subs Not Used: Nista, Vanoli, Orlandini, Giunti. Goals: Balbo 47, Fiore 63, Chiesa 66 pen.

Rangers: Niemi, Porrini, Hendry, Amoruso, Numan, Albertz, B Ferguson (Miller 81), I Ferguson, Van Bronckhorst, Wallace (Amato 73), Durie (Vidmar 54). Subs Not Used: Brown, Stensaas, Wilson, Kanchelskis. Sent Off: Porrini (45). Booked: Porrini, Van Bronckhorst, Miller. Goal: Albertz 29.

Referee: T Hauge (Norway).