NafisaThe confusion surrounding the controversial penalty at Ibrox has taken another twist, with Hibs goalscorer Josh Campbell admitting he initially had no idea which team had been awarded the spot-kick.
The incident came during Sunday’s clash between Rangers and Hibernian, with the match still goalless when referee Don Robertson stopped play following an off-the-ball battle between Rangers midfielder Vanja Dragojevic and Hibs defender Jason Kerr.
What followed only added to the confusion inside the stadium.
VAR intervened and Robertson was eventually sent to the pitchside monitor to review the incident. After watching the footage, the referee decided that Dragojevic had committed a foul and awarded Hibs a penalty.
Even Campbell, who would ultimately take responsibility from 12 yards, was initially unsure what was happening.
Speaking afterwards, the Hibs midfielder admitted he thought the decision could actually have gone against his own side.
He said: “I hadn’t a clue. I thought we had given a penalty away, if I’m honest with you.
“Then I was told that I was taking it and I was like, ‘Alright, it must be our penalty’.”
Campbell was then faced with the task of waiting through the lengthy VAR process before finally stepping up to take the spot-kick.
With the Ibrox crowd making their feelings known about the decision, the pressure was hardly insignificant.
But Campbell kept his composure when it mattered.
He sent Rangers goalkeeper Ivor Pandur the wrong way and put Hibs ahead, converting what had become one of the most controversial moments of the match.
The midfielder also admitted that the uncertainty surrounding the decision made the situation even more difficult.
Rather than knowing immediately that Hibs had been handed an opportunity to take the lead, Campbell was left waiting to discover exactly what Robertson had decided after the VAR intervention.
That uncertainty eventually disappeared when he was handed the ball.
Campbell concluded: “I was just happy to step up and score.”
The penalty ultimately proved crucial for David Gray’s side, who went on to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory at Ibrox.
For Rangers, however, the incident remains a major talking point, particularly given the debate surrounding whether there was enough contact between Dragojevic and Kerr to justify overturning the original decision.
Several former players and officials have questioned the penalty, while Rangers supporters have continued to express their frustration at the VAR intervention.
And Campbell’s admission adds another unusual layer to the controversy: even the man who eventually converted the penalty initially believed the decision might have gone against Hibs.
Nafisa
