What Rangers have complained about in Scottish Premiership title race as more conspiracies expected
A growing number of Rangers fans believe that a conspiracy will prevent them from winning the Scottish Premiership title.
Rangers were at the centre of an explosive weekend in the league as they came from behind to beat leaders Hearts 4-2 at Ibrox on Sunday.
Earlier that day, Celtic came from two goals down to beat lowly Kilmarnock with a 97th-minute winner.
Now, all three teams are separated by just three points, although the Bhoys have a game in hand.
As nerves increasingly fray heading into the final third of the season ahead of the split, rival fans will pore over decisions that didn’t go their way.
Now, journalist Stephen McGowan has pointed to the race becoming more toxic, with further “conspiracies” to unveil themselves along the way.
Rangers fans not happy with Celtic’s opening day fixture date
Before the matter of referees comes up, some Rangers fans thought they had spotted some clandestine trails right at the start of the 2025-26 season.
When this campaign’s fixtures were announced last June, Rangers fans hit out at the SPFL in regards to their respective season openers.
A select few supporters weren’t happy that Celtic would be kicking off their season a day later than their rivals. But that is just the start.
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Anger grows about Celtic’s added-time winners
In recent weeks, Celtic have been the late show kings. In their last three matches, they have won games with stoppage-time winners.
Last Sunday, Julian Araujo’s 97th-minute goal secured Celtic a 3-2 win over Kilmarnock, with manager Neil McCann questioning where the officials found all that added time.
Indeed, Rangers hero Kris Boyd backed the Kilmarnock boss’ pleas, prompting Celtic icon Chris Sutton to brand the naysayers as having “sour grapes”.
On 7 February, Celtic scored a 97th-minute equaliser against Dundee through Adamu before winning 2-1 in extra time in the Scottish Cup fifth round and four days later, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored in the 91st minute in a 2-1 victory over basement side Livingston.
If Celtic keep winning deep into added time, the conspiracy theorists will be out in force.
Rangers fans’ frustration over refereeing calls
Ahead of Rangers’ top-of-the-table clash with Hearts, fans were not happy that Don Robertson had been chosen to referee the game.
That is because there is a bit of history between him and the Gers.
For instance, when Celtic beat Rangers 1-0 in September 2023, club legend Ally McCoist branded Robertson’s decision to rule out Kemar Roofe’s goal as “appalling”.
Rangers fans also labelled Robertson “ridiculous” for not issuing a red card to Celtic’s Callum McGregor after a heated altercation with Rangers’ Nicolas Raskin, who received a yellow in January 2025.
Rangers were fuming that Anthony Ralston and Auston Trusty weren’t sent off after conceding a penalty while on a yellow card and catching Jack Butland late, respectively, in their 3-1 loss to Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals last November.
Rangers went on to make an official complaint to the Scottish FA, prompting Derek Ferguson to say that they simply don’t get the decisions in these big games.
Whether that plays a decisive role in the title race this season remains to be seen, but plenty more drama is coming between these three with everything on the line.
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