Credit: Imago

Pete Hanson

Sat 22 February 2025 17:28, UK

Hamza Igamane was handed a huge reprieve as Rangers shockingly lost 2-0 to St Mirren at Ibrox on Saturday.

The Morocco striker was shown a straight red card by referee Kevin Clancy on the stroke of half-time in Rangers’ Scottish Premiership clash for a lunge on St Mirren captain Mark O’Hara.

However, Clancy was advised to go and take another look at the incident on the pitch-side screen to have another look at the incident.

Having taken time to consider his decision, Clancy rescinded the red card but did award a yellow with the tackle deemed reckless but not an act of serious foul play.

Rangers survive Igamane scare as Ian McCall ponders Clancy call

Igamane’s reaction said it all, he was absolutely convinced immediately that Clancy had got this one wrong and the forward made his feelings clearer as Rangers toiled versus St Mirren at Ibrox.

The 22-year-old waved his left arm up in frustration and, even when it was downgraded to a yellow, he had a rueful smile as if to say it was not even a yellow card.

Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the decision, Ian McCall reacted to the incident live on BBC Sportsound on Radio Scotland and felt that the right decision had ultimately been reached following the VAR intervention on the Rangers ace.

“First thing you’ll say is Hamza Igamane is convinced it’s not a sending off. I don’t think his foot comes off the ground, whether it was undue force, I don’t know. Igamane is absolutely certain it’s not a straight red,” McCall said immediately after the red was shown.

When the decision he was reversed, he added: “I think it was a yellow i don’t think there’s any doubt in that, it’s interesting to see the St Mirren players, I don’t think anyone thought it was a red it was just maybe the reactions of one or two of the players at first. I think a yellow’s probably the right decision.”

Rangers no strangers to VAR controversy

To put it bluntly, Rangers are no stranger at all when it comes to VAR controversy and they have often been on the wrong end of some dismal decisions when it comes to the officials.

So, it was almost refreshing to see the process work in their favour for once, because Clancy did seem to react pretty hastily to Igamane’s challenge.

The tackle was, in truth, probably worthy of a yellow card but it would have been harsh in the extreme if he were to have received his marching orders for the tackle.

Ultimately, common sense prevailed and Igamane will avoid a suspension, which will be a relief to manager Philippe Clement on an otherwise disastrous day that might finally put the final nail in his Rangers coffin..

Igamane has been an influential player for a Rangers side which has greatly underachieved this season but he has been off the boil a bit lately. Clement and the Light Blues faithful will hope he can rediscover some top form in the closing months of the season.

The Belgian badly needs his players to find some form but the truth is he might not even be in the dugout to oversee things even if they do after this latest debacle.