Credit: Imago and Premier Sports

Max Wilkins

Tue 28 April 2026 8:40, UK

Rangers were denied a penalty as Djeidi Gassama was brought down against Motherwell on Sunday.

The Gers tasted a 3-2 defeat against Jens Berthel Askou’s side to severely dent their Scottish Premiership title chances with four games to go.

The visitors took a 2-0 lead after just 25 minutes before Danny Rohl’s men got back level, just to throw it away when Emmanuel Longelo netted a 90th-minute winner at Ibrox.

Things could have been different if certain decisions had gone the way of the Ibrox outfit, as referee Kevin Clancy came under fire.

Gassama felt hard done by not to earn a penalty against Motherwell, a decision which certainly didn’t go down well with Alan Hutton.

Rangers should have had a penalty vs Motherwell says Alan Hutton

It can’t be understated how poor the Govan club were in front of goal against the Well in such a frustrating home defeat.

Missing four big chances is unacceptable and ultimately afforded the away side a chance to go and seal victory late on.

There was an element of panic on show in G51, mainly because Motherwell went two up early on to leave the Ibrox faithful shocked.

That may not have been possible if Gassama had been awarded a penalty after being taken down by Lukas Fadinger right on the edge of the box.

Referee Clancy opted to award a free kick, but Hutton has since told Premier Sports’ Scottish Football Social Club that a penalty should have been given.

He said: “I think it’s on the line, personally. Gassama does what every forward would try to do: get in front of the defender. It’s very difficult because whenever I’ve got it on my phone, or I’ve tried to slow it down and really see it frame by frame, it’s hard because it happens at a real pace.

“It does look on the line to me, which would have been a penalty. It was 1-0; it would have changed the game. I’m just being honest, it looks on the line.”

Rangers ultimately tasted defeat against Motherwell, and it’s safe to say the thoughts of Hutton don’t echo throughout the wider footballing world.

Michael Stewart slams Gassama in no penalty verdict

There is a general feeling at Ibrox that the hosts were hard done by and should have had a spot kick in the early stages against the Steelmen.

Hutton has made his feelings clear, but they were quickly questioned when Michael Stewart offered his opinion in response.

He said: “I don’t think it’s a foul, and if it is, I think it’s a foul for Motherwell. Gassama puts his leg across the Motherwell player; he doesn’t play the ball. Even if the Motherwell player doesn’t make contact, I’m not sure he’s going to maintain balance.

“He stretches that far in front of the Motherwell player that he’s not keeping his own balance. He’s fouled the Motherwell player as far as I’m concerned.”

There are contrasting views on the decision in Govan, but it ultimately won’t make any difference at this stage, with the result sealed and now in the past.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.