REASON WHY PENALTY WASN’T AWARDED DESPITE IT’S FOUL HAS LEFT EVERYONE FURIOUS —SPFL RELEASES SHOCKING STATEMENT

“It’s a foul everywhere else!” — fans rage as officials dig in

Scottish football has been plunged into another refereeing firestorm, and this time the anger is louder, sharper, and far more united than usual. Rangers supporters, neutrals, and even former referees are asking the same question after the controversial clash with Hibernian:

How on earth was THAT not a penalty?

A Rangers attack. A clear break into the box. Contact made. DJIGA sent crashing to the turf.

The referee waves play on.

No whistle.

No VAR intervention.

No penalty.

And now, after hours of outrage, slowed-down replays, screenshots circled in red, and accusations flying across social media, the SPFL has finally released a statement explaining why the spot-kick was not awarded.

Instead of calming the storm, that explanation has only made things worse. 😡

⚽ THE INCIDENT THAT STOPPED IBROX BREATHING

The moment arrived late in the match with Rangers pushing hard. DJIGA drove into the Hibernian penalty area, nudging the ball past his marker. As he attempted to accelerate onto it, the Hibs defender stretched a leg across his path.

Contact followed.

DJIGA went down.

The ball rolled loose.

Inside Ibrox, thousands rose to their feet, arms already in the air. On the bench, Rangers staff exploded. On the pitch, DJIGA stared in disbelief.

The referee? Unmoved.

Play on.

Within seconds, the stadium atmosphere flipped from anticipation to pure fury.

📸 FREEZE FRAMES DON’T LIE… OR DO THEY?

Within minutes, images began circulating online. One still showed the Hibernian player’s leg clearly making contact with DJIGA’s foot. Another angle suggested a trailing leg catching the Rangers man from behind.

Supporters were quick to point out:

• DJIGA gets to the ball first
• The defender does not touch the ball
• Contact is made inside the box

For many, the verdict was obvious.

Penalty. No debate.

But football, as Rangers fans know all too well, is rarely that simple.

😡 “CORRUPT TO THE CORE” — FANS LOSE ALL PATIENCE

The reaction online was instant and brutal.

• “That’s a stonewall penalty in every league in Europe.”
• “If that’s not a foul, what is?”
• “SPFL officiating is broken beyond repair.”

Hashtags accusing officials of bias began trending. Some fans went further, plastering screenshots alongside words like “corrupt,” “agenda,” and “rigged.”

Former players and pundits also weighed in, with several admitting they were “surprised” the referee didn’t at least consult VAR.

But the most damaging blow came later…

🚨 SPFL RELEASES OFFICIAL STATEMENT — AND IT BACKFIRES

Under mounting pressure, the SPFL issued a statement clarifying why the referee’s decision stood.

According to the league’s explanation:

“The referee judged that the contact between the Hibernian defender and DJIGA was insufficient to constitute a foul, and that the attacking player initiated the fall following minimal contact.”

That single sentence detonated another wave of fury.

🤯 “MINIMAL CONTACT?” — WHY THIS HAS INFURIATED EVERYONE

The phrase “minimal contact” has become a trigger for Scottish football fans — and this case poured fuel on the fire.

Supporters immediately fired back:

• Since when does “minimal contact” cancel out a foul?
• If contact impedes a player’s movement, isn’t that the definition of a foul?
• Why are similar incidents elsewhere given as penalties without hesitation?

Even neutral fans began questioning consistency.

One former referee speaking on radio summed it up bluntly:

“If you make contact from behind and affect the attacker’s balance, you are taking a huge risk. I’m amazed VAR didn’t step in.”

🎥 THE VAR QUESTION THAT WON’T GO AWAY

Perhaps the most explosive element of this controversy is VAR’s silence.

Fans want to know:

• Was the incident checked properly?
• Did VAR agree instantly with the referee?
• Or was the threshold for intervention set too high — again?

The SPFL insisted VAR reviewed the incident and found no “clear and obvious error.”

But that phrase has become another lightning rod.

To many supporters, it sounds like:

“Yes, it looks like a foul… but not enough of one.”

And that is simply unacceptable in their eyes.

🟥 DJIGA — SILENT, BUT HIS BODY LANGUAGE SAID IT ALL

DJIGA himself didn’t launch into a rant after the game. No explosive interview. No dramatic quotes.

But cameras caught his reaction:

• Hands spread wide
• Shaking his head
• A long stare toward the referee

Sometimes, silence speaks louder than words.

Teammates were far less restrained, surrounding officials and demanding answers — answers they never received.

⚖️ CONSISTENCY: THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN SCOTTISH FOOTBALL?

This incident has reopened an old wound.

Fans are not just angry about this decision.

They’re angry about patterns.

• Similar fouls given as penalties one week
• Identical challenges waved away the next
• No clear explanation of what changes from match to match

Rangers supporters in particular feel these marginal calls never seem to fall their way, especially in tight games where one decision can define a season.

Whether that perception is fair or not, it is becoming dangerously widespread.

🧨 WHY THIS DECISION COULD HAVE SEASON-DEFINING CONSEQUENCES

In a title race or European qualification battle, moments like this matter.

One penalty:

• Changes the scoreline
• Alters momentum
• Shapes confidence

Deny it — rightly or wrongly — and you’re left with resentment that lingers long after the final whistle.

That’s why this incident refuses to die.

🔍 WAS IT A FOUL? THE FOOTBALLING REALITY

Strip away the noise, and most observers agree on one thing:

There was contact.

It occurred inside the penalty area.

The defender did not win the ball.

Whether that contact meets the referee’s subjective threshold is where the argument lives — and where Scottish football keeps tripping over itself.

🚨 FINAL WORD: A STATEMENT THAT MADE THINGS WORSE

The SPFL hoped its explanation would close the book.

Instead, it has:

• Deepened mistrust
• Inflamed supporters
• Raised more questions than answers

For Rangers fans, this isn’t just about DJIGA.

It’s about fairness, consistency, and accountability.

Until those issues are addressed, every controversial decision will feel less like an error — and more like a betrayal.

And Scottish football will keep tearing itself apart over moments just like this. 👀🔥