Having been booked earlier Ricksen, who had a nightmare at Parkhead back in August, it was sheer folly for the defender to lunge in on Tom Boyd the way he did having been booked earlier.
The bizarre aspect is that Rangers played so much better with just 10 men and with a little bit of luck and more astute refereeing they would have at least earned a draw.
Hugh Dallas, who had an otherwise excellent game, failed to award a penalty 10 minutes from time when Chris Sutton clearly man-handled Tore Andre Flo because he missed the incident.
Celtic were by the far the superior side in the first half and scored what proved to be the winner through Alan Thompson. It means the Championship is surely over.
The loss of points in October was so costly for Rangers and it was always going to be an uphill battle after that. Now that battle looks to have been lost.
With so many selection problems due to the suspensions of Michael Mols and Cladio Reyna and the horrendous injury list, Dick Advocaat fielded virtually the only line-up possible.
He kept faith with Bob Malcolm at the back and brought in Kenny Miller to play up front with Tore Andre Flo and Neil McCann in an attacking 3-4-3 formation. The thinking behind it was simple because only victory would do for Rangers.
Ricksen was back, due to Reyna’s unavailability, and it took only 11 minutes for the Dutch fullback to put himself under pressure when he collected a yellow card for a late challenge on Alan Thompson.
Ricksen had a personal nightmare the last time he was at Celtic Park when he was substituted after only 20 minutes last August when the Parkhead men went on to win 6-2. He did not make half-time again today.
It was to prove to be another black day for the former AZ Alkmaar defender and this time it was sheer stupidity on his part which hugely disadvantaged Rangers when he was sent off just before half-time when he earned a second yellow for a nonsensical challenge on Tom Boyd.
Rangers, who had fallen one behind after 16 minutes, were finding it hard enough to cause any trouble to the Celtic defence and the recklessness of Ricksen only made matters worse.
The Ibrox men did not have a shot on target in the first half. In fact, they scarcely created an opportunity.
Celtic were sharper and much more dangerous, although there was an element of fortune about the goal which put them into the driving seat.
Chris Sutton burst forward and was initially repelled by the Rangers defence but managed to move the ball square for Henrik Larsson.
The Swede actually miscontrolled the ball but managed to layit off to Thompson who had followed in and tucked a left foot shot past the helpless Stefan Klos.
Ironically, it was Ricksen who created Rangers’ most dangerous first half moment when he won a corner in 19 minutes. McCann’s first two attempts were put out by Sutton and although Scott Wilson connected with the third one his header flew over the top.
Celtic were in control, though, and they came close to going two ahead in 25 minutes. Neil Lennon whipped over a freekick from the left and Bert Konterman just managed to head clear under pressure from Sutton.
Bobby Petta was booked for a foul on Ricksen in 42 minutes and then a minute later Konterman was cautioned for pulling down Larsson. Still there was very little happening for Rangers.
Indeed, the whole picture become darker when Ricksen left his teammates short with that stupid challenge on Boyd.
It never rains but it pours for Advocaat who had to change the structure of his team for the second half. He brought on Tugay to hold the midfield, taking off the ineffectual Kenny Miller and his change of tactics worked well early on.
Rangers took control of possession and started to move the ball better than at any other stage of the match. Albertz shot over the bar a minute into the second half and the big German came even closer to scoring three minutes later.
McCann set up Flo with a terrific pass which ripped the Celtic defence apart. Flo could not get his shot in and released Albertz who hit a low left foot shot which Douglas did well to smother.
Then in 63 minutes Rangers came desperately close to equalising. Douglas flapped at Albertz’s corner and the ball dropped for Konterman whose shot was deflected towards the top right corner but Didier Agathe was on the line to head clear.
Sadly, Albertz’s involvement ended at this stage. An ankle injury meant he had to come off and he was replaced by Allan Johnston.
Rangers were well on top at this stage, with Neil McCann showing tremendous spirit and willingness to try and claw his side back into the game.
However, being one man down they were always going to be susceptible to a counter attack and they were almost caught out in 72 minutes.
Larsson broke free and released Thompson who should have scored but the former Aston Villa midfielder blasted over the bar, to the relief of the Rangers supporters.
A minute later Klos had to make a brilliant block on Agathe’s powerful shot and the momentum had swung back Celtic’s way.
However, there is scarcely an occasion when an Old Firm game is not tinged with controversy and so it proved with 10 minutes remaining.
There is no doubt that Sutton pulled back in Flo in the box. The Englishman had his arms all over the Norwegian. It was a clear penalty but Hugh Dallas, unsighted, did not give it.
It was the only decision that Dallas got wrong all day, but it was such a costly one for Rangers who more than deserved a draw for their brave second half performance.
A 12-point gap with 12 games remaining is surely insurmountable and the essential task for Rangers now is to secure second place and qualification for the Champions League.
CELTIC: Douglas; Mjallby (Tebily 55), Boyd, Vega; Agathe, Lennon, Lambert, Thompson, Petta; Larrson, Sutton. Subs not used – Gould, Johnson, Healy, Smith.
Bookings: Petta (42)
RANGERS: Klos; Malcolm, Konterman, Wilson; Ricksen, Ferguson, Albertz (Johnston 63), Numan; Miller, Flo, McCann. Subs not used – Christiansen, Hughes, Carson.
Sent off: Ricksen (44)
Bookings: Konterman (43
Ref: Hugh Dallas.
Att: 59,486.
Man of the match: Neil McCann.
Moment of the match: Dallas’s failure to award a spotkick.