Furious Rangers boss slams referee after on
- Rangers won 1-0 against Hibernian at Ibrox, with Tom Lawrence scoring the only goal.
- A controversial penalty was awarded to Hibernian for a handball by John Souttar, which was saved by Jack Butland.
- Manager Philippe Clement expressed frustration over the penalty decision, calling for clearer criteria in officiating.
In a recent match at Ibrox, Rangers secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Hibernian, with Tom Lawrence scoring the decisive goal in the 34th minute. However, the game was marred by controversy surrounding a penalty decision awarded to Hibernian just before halftime. Referee Nick Walsh, after consulting the pitchside monitor, ruled that Rangers defender John Souttar handled the ball in the box. Despite the penalty being saved by goalkeeper Jack Butland, Rangers manager Philippe Clement expressed his frustration during the post-match press conference. He argued that Souttar's positioning made it impossible for him to avoid contact with the ball, as his arms were naturally positioned when he attempted to block with his leg. Clement emphasized the need for clarity in penalty criteria, referencing previous discussions with the referee department aimed at improving decision-making. He highlighted that recent decisions have shown a positive trend, but this particular incident raised questions about the consistency of officiating standards. The manager's comments reflect a broader concern within the sport regarding the interpretation of handball rules and the impact of such decisions on match outcomes.