Rangers anger justified over 'unacceptable' scenes as Keith Hackett responds to UEFA announcement

Rangers fans were fully justified in their anger after UEFA announced their punishment for FC Porto, according to former FIFA referee Keith Hackett.

UEFA issued a warning to the Estadio do Dragao side after Gers supporters were kept in the stadium for two hours after the game.

The governing body sanctioned the Dragons for a breach of article 46.01(e) of their Safety and Security Regulations.

Rangers were battered 3-1 on the pitch in Porto, but the events off the field took most of the headlines.

After the announcement of the warning, the Rangers Fan Advisory Board hit out, claiming that a fine should have been issued beyond just a warning.

Now, former official Hackett has agreed with their verdict on the matter.

What has been said about UEFA's Porto vs Rangers announcement?

Former PGMOL chief Hackett believes that the Portuguese club should have been fined, but understands why they were not.

Speaking exclusively to Ibrox News, he said: "Porto at the time will have been listening to the advice of the police and other agencies to come to the decision of holding fans in the stadium.

"Frankly, two hours is totally unacceptable and one would hope that UEFA through its Match Delegate at the game will have received appropriate reports.

"Porto hopefully will review their operations to determine what action they need to take on future UEFA games.

"I am surprised, like Rangers fans, that no fine was implemented.

"I suggest the reason for this is that Porto were able to provide information regarding the security advice they were receiving."

Ultimately, it comes down to UEFA, and they need to act to improve conditions for supporters, but how?

Why UEFA need to toughen up on this behaviour

UEFA need to get tougher than just offering warnings.

Ultimately, supporters should not be held in the stadium for two hours, they should be safe to leave and roam the city immediately afterwards.

If that is not the case, then it is a policing and organisation issue, which also falls under their purview, as the organisers of the match.

The current punishment does very little to dissuade the current procedures, which are not fair to supporters.

Football fans are treated like dirt, and something needs to change as it is not right.