Michael Stewart makes Hamza Igamane admission in new Rangers v St Mirren footage
Michael Stewart has made his stance clear after controversial footage of Hamza Igamane from St Mirren’s 2-0 win against Rangers on Saturday emerged.
Igamane was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Mark O’Hara at the stroke of half-time with the scoreline of the game at Ibrox on 22 February still reading 0-0.
However, the decision was overturned after the referee reviewed the pitchside monitor and the Rangers striker’s punishment was reduced to a yellow card, although Philippe Clement’s side still went on to lose 2-0.
While Clement’s sacking has turned attention away from that incident on Saturday, it has been put up for debate once again after new footage emerged on Premier Sports.
Igamane fortunate to avoid red card, says Stewart
Looking back at the incident, Stewart admitted that Igamane was fortunate to avoid being sent off for his foul on O’Hara.
The pundit added that the tackle ultimately only warranted a yellow card, but reckons the referee’s decision should have stood after he had given it.
He also hit out at Rangers’ performance against St Mirren, describing it as “terrible”.
Speaking on Premier Sports’ Scottish Football Social Club (24 February), Stewart said:
“I thought Igamane was fortunate, having been given the red, that it was overturned.
“I think a yellow card is probably about right, but again, it is one of those where the red having been shown, I think he’s fortunate it got rescinded in the game because there is plenty of force in the challenge.
“I do think the yellow was probably about right, but having been given the red, I thought he was slightly fortunate.
“Look, by the by, it is a terrible performance, terrible result.”
Rangers move on from St Mirren setback
The defeat against St Mirren was the last straw that broke the camel’s back as Rangers were left with no choice by to sack Clement despite Patrick Stewart extending his support towards the Belgian a few days earlier.
Having since appointed Barry Ferguson as the head coach until the end of the season, the Light Blues are determined to put the disappointment of the loss behind them.
The Glasgow giants are hopeful that their former captain can invoke a positive reaction from the players when they visit Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Wednesday, 26 February.
Rangers have tasked Ferguson with holding the fort until the summer, with a consortium, including Paraag Marathe of 49ers Enterprises, in talks over a takeover.
It might be the new owners who will decide the next permanent manager at Ibrox, with David Wagner on their radar.