Rangers Fans Left Absolutely Furious After Controversial VAR Decision Costs Them Against Hibs
Rangers fans were left absolutely furious on Sunday after a controversial VAR decision went against the Gers during their disappointing defeat to Hibernian at Ibrox.
What had already been a frustrating afternoon for Derek McInnes’ side quickly turned into a major talking point when referee Don Robertson was advised to review an incident involving Vanja Dragojevic and Jason Kerr inside the Rangers penalty area.
The Rangers players appeared stunned when the decision eventually went against them. For large sections of the home support, the call felt like yet another example of VAR intervening in a way that only deepened the sense of injustice.
How the Penalty Decision Unfolded
Robertson initially allowed play to continue after the challenge. From the stands, and from the pitch itself, it looked as though the referee had decided there was not enough in the contact to stop the game.
VAR, however, had other ideas. The officials in the video room intervened and sent Robertson to the pitch-side monitor to take another look at the challenge between Dragojevic and Kerr.
After reviewing the footage, Robertson decided that Dragojevic had pulled Kerr down and awarded Hibernian a penalty. The decision immediately sent Ibrox into uproar.
Rangers supporters could barely believe what they had just witnessed. Boos and protests rang around the stadium as the referee confirmed his decision. The noise levels rose sharply, and the atmosphere turned from frustration into open anger.
To make matters worse for the home side, Dragojevic was shown a yellow card. Josh Campbell then stepped up and calmly converted from the spot, giving Hibernian a lead that ultimately helped them secure the victory.
Rangers Players Left Stunned by the Call
The reaction from the Rangers players told its own story. There was widespread disbelief among the home side, with several players appearing convinced that the contact was nowhere near enough to justify a penalty.
Lawrence Shankland was among those visibly unhappy with the decision. His body language and gestures made it clear he felt the call was harsh. Around him, teammates shook their heads and remonstrated with the officials.
For Vanja Dragojevic, the moment was particularly difficult. This was his first Scottish Premiership start for the club, and being involved in such a controversial incident was hardly the introduction he would have wanted. A young player trying to establish himself at Ibrox suddenly found himself at the centre of a storm not of his own making.
The decision also raised serious questions about why VAR had become involved in the first place. The initial call from Robertson had not been a penalty. Many Rangers supporters felt there was insufficient evidence for the technology to recommend an overturn.
Michael Stewart Delivers Brutal Verdict on VAR Intervention
Michael Stewart was watching the incident for Premier Sports and was equally baffled by the decision. The former Scotland international questioned why VAR had intervened at all and argued that there was simply not enough in the challenge to warrant awarding Hibernian a spot-kick.
He said: “It doesn’t look good for Dragojevic, but that’s not a penalty kick, that’s not a penalty.”
Stewart then went further, questioning the very reason for the VAR intervention. “I don’t know why VAR are looking at this. Jason Kerr falls to the ground without, they just don’t need to be getting involved with that.”
As Robertson prepared to award the penalty, Stewart’s disbelief only grew. “It looks like they’re going to give a penalty kick. It’s absolutely incredible, it really is.”
He was particularly critical of the decision to involve VAR in an incident he felt did not meet the threshold for intervention. “Nobody’s looked at that in real time, it’s way after the fact, I just do not see there’s any need for VAR to be getting involved in that.”
Those comments are likely to add fuel to the anger among the Rangers support, particularly after what was already shaping up to be another frustrating result. When a respected pundit is left shaking his head at a decision, it tends to reinforce the sense among fans that something is not right with how the system is being applied.
Another VAR Flashpoint for Rangers
The incident will inevitably bring back memories of previous controversial decisions involving Rangers. Supporters once again found themselves questioning whether VAR is helping or hindering the game.
From the stands, the decision looked extremely marginal. Many in the crowd felt it was the kind of soft contact that happens regularly in the box without any intervention. The fact that the original on-field call was not a penalty only heightened the sense that VAR had overstepped.
From the Rangers perspective, the frustration was not simply about conceding the penalty. It was also about the principle. An incident which had initially been deemed insufficient for a spot-kick was revisited and ultimately overturned. That distinction has left many supporters asking whether VAR should have intervened at all.
There is a growing feeling among sections of the Ibrox support that the technology is being used inconsistently. Soft penalties appear to be given against Rangers, while similar incidents elsewhere sometimes go unpunished. Whether that perception is fair or not, it is now part of the emotional landscape surrounding every big decision at the club.
Pressure Mounts on Derek McInnes
For McInnes, the controversy is another unwanted distraction during a difficult start to his Rangers reign. The manager needs his side to start producing results, but Sunday’s defeat to Hibernian only increased the pressure surrounding the team.
Instead of the post-match conversation focusing solely on performance, tactics, or missed opportunities, much of the discussion has centred on one contentious VAR decision. That is never ideal for a manager trying to build momentum and confidence.
McInnes will be aware that results ultimately matter more than individual refereeing calls. Yet when a key moment in a match is decided by a highly disputed intervention, it becomes harder for players and fans alike to accept the outcome with a clear head.
The defeat leaves Rangers searching for answers on the pitch. At the same time, the manner of the penalty award has given the supporters a clear target for their anger. That combination is rarely healthy for any dressing room.
Ibrox Faithful Make Their Feelings Clear
The Ibrox faithful certainly had their say on Sunday. The reaction inside the stadium was loud, sustained, and unmistakable. Boos greeted the award of the penalty, and the mood did not improve once Campbell had scored.
For many supporters, this was not just about one decision. It felt like the latest in a series of moments where technology, rather than clarifying the game, has left them feeling hard done by. The anger was real, and it was directed both at the officials and at the system itself.
Judging by the reaction inside the stadium, this is a decision Rangers supporters are unlikely to forget anytime soon. The debate will continue in the days ahead, on social media, in pubs, and on phone-ins. The footage will be analysed frame by frame, and the arguments will be rehearsed again and again.
Whether the call was correct or not according to the letter of the law is almost secondary now. In the eyes of the Ibrox crowd, it felt wrong. And in football, especially at a club like Rangers, how a decision feels to the supporters often matters just as much as the technical justification.
Sunday’s events have left Rangers with a defeat, a sense of injustice, and another chapter in their ongoing uneasy relationship with VAR. For the fans who filled Ibrox, the memory of that penalty will linger long after the final whistle.