adminR0BBED IN PAISLEY! Rangers’ Stonewall Penalty StoIen by Cowardly Ref and Spineless VAR – Gogic’s BIatant Handball Ignored as Gers Grind Out UgIy Win!
What a disgrace. What should have been a match remembered for Tuur Rommens’ moment of brilliance—that exquisite curling strike into the bottom corner in the 31st minute, securing a hard-fought 1-0 win for Rangers—has instead become infamous for yet another blatant injustice against the men in black (and the invisible VAR operators).
Let’s set the scene. Just 12 minutes in, Rangers are pressing relentlessly on the road against a resilient, managerless St Mirren side fighting for survival. Nicolas Raskin’s header from a dangerous corner is destined for the net… until it bounces straight off the arm of Alex Gogic. The ball hits an unnatural position, denying what looked like a certain goal—or at the very least forcing a miraculous reaction save.
Rangers swarm referee Steven McLean. The away end erupts in outrage. Raskin looks furious—and understandably so. Yet McLean waves it off like nothing happened. VAR intervenes… and shockingly, they uphold the on-field decision. No penalty. Play continues. Move along.
This isn’t just a controversial call. This is daylight robbery. Gogic’s arm is clearly away from his body, making himself bigger in the box. The header is goal-bound. If a Rangers defender did the same at the other end, pundits would be screaming “clear and obvious” handball for weeks. But because it’s Rangers, suddenly it’s “nothing to see here,” as one analyst casually dismissed it on air.
Former Rangers man Scott Arfield even weighed in post-match, acknowledging Raskin’s anger but somehow calling it the “right” decision. Come on. The replays, limited as they were on Sky, show the truth. Fans on X (Twitter) erupted: comparisons to other recent handballs, accusations of inconsistency, and cries that VAR seems to pick apart every Rangers moment while ignoring others.
Meanwhile, Rangers fight tooth and nail to secure this win, narrowing the gap at the top despite a performance more about grit than flair. They survive late pressure, see a second goal ruled offside in stoppage time (fair enough), and collect three vital points. But the narrative? Overshadowed by yet another “what if” moment that could have made it far more comfortable.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Scottish football officiating has long been a circus—handball rules applied like a lottery, VAR checks that feel one-sided, and decisions seemingly stacked against the big clubs at crucial moments. Rangers fans are exasperated, and today added another frustrating chapter.
Credit where it’s due: Danny Rohl’s men battled through, and Rommens’ strike was top-class—a highlight in a scrappy, low-block slog. The defense stood strong under pressure, and the three points keep the title challenge alive. Yet this game should have been more decisive. Instead, we’re left with headlines about an “ugly win,” while the real scandal—the non-penalty—is swept aside.
Until the SFA enforces consistency, transparency (release the VAR audio!), and stops showing favoritism, these controversies will continue. Rangers were robbed today. Plain and simple.
What do you think, Kayode? Stonewall penalty or soft appeal? Drop your thoughts—and if you’ve got clips or alternative angles, share them! Mon the Gers!.
admin
