Philippe Clement, the Rangers manager, expressed his frustration over referee John Beaton’s penalty decision during his side’s 3-3 draw at Easter Road, stating he’ll be waiting to hear if referee chief Willie Collum backs the call. The incident in question saw Ianis Hagi penalized for tripping Josh Campbell, a decision that irked Clement as Rangers struggled to maintain a lead after Hamza Igamane’s early brace. Despite pundits like Chris Sutton defending Beaton’s decision, Clement disagreed, arguing that the incident could set a dangerous precedent for future penalty decisions.
Clement warned that if such penalties are regularly awarded, Scottish football could see an increasing number of spot-kicks given for minimal contact. He remarked, “If this is the new standard, players will be going down after every touch. That’s not how the game should be played. It was a crucial moment because it gave Hibs momentum. I need to explain to my players why it was given, as we don’t agree on this one.” Clement added that he was eager to hear Collum’s thoughts during the VAR review show at the end of the month, along with insights from the Key Match Incidents panel, which includes former professionals and referees.
Despite the disappointment from dropping points, Clement remained focused on his team’s broader goals. “Of course, it’s frustrating not to get the three points, but it doesn’t affect the belief or confidence. The players gave everything and showed some good things, but we didn’t get the reward we deserved,” he said. Rangers seemed to have control early on with Igamane’s two goals within the first 20 minutes. However, Hibs struck back with Martin Boyle’s goal just before halftime, followed by a penalty for a foul by Hagi. Rangers regained the lead thanks to Igamane’s 10th goal in 11 games, but Hibs equalized again with a late header from Rocky Bushiri, leaving Clement frustrated with his team’s inability to hold onto a win.
The match also brought more injury concerns for Clement, who was already without several key players, including captain James Tavernier, Jack Butland, and John Souttar. To make matters worse, Dujon Sterling was forced off with an injury, adding to his growing list of unavailable players. Clement will also be without stand-in captain Nico Raskin for the upcoming match against Dundee due to suspension. When asked about the injuries, Clement confirmed that Souttar would be out for “several weeks,” and the extent of Sterling’s injury was still uncertain.
Looking ahead to the January transfer window, Clement said that the decision about potential reinforcements would be up to Rangers’ new CEO, Patrick Stewart. “Patrick will address the plans for January. Every manager feels the need for new players, especially with our current injury crisis. But there’s also the club’s financial situation to consider, and I’m not the one to decide how that’s handled,” Clement explained.
