NafisaRangers’ 1-0 victory over Motherwell at Ibrox may have delivered three important points for Derek McInnes, but the controversial penalty incident involving Djeidi Gassama has continued to dominate the conversation.
The Rangers winger went down inside the Motherwell box after coming into contact with Tom Sparrow, with referee Duncan Nicolson immediately pointing to the spot.
Motherwell were furious with the decision, while their social media team made their feelings known afterwards by describing it as an “incredibly soft-looking” penalty.
There was an opportunity for Rangers to put the game beyond doubt, but Min-Su Kim failed to convert from 12 yards, firing his effort wide of the left post.
Motherwell’s social media team then suggested “justice” had been served.
Despite the controversy, Rangers held on to claim another valuable victory, with Ryan Don Naderi’s goal proving enough to settle the contest.
But the incident has taken on a different dimension after former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett gave his assessment of what happened.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett was highly critical of Gassama’s reaction to the contact and argued that the winger had exaggerated the incident.
“Football is a contact sport and sometimes we forget that, and often where we’ve got contact, we’ve got exaggeration under the banner of simulation,” he said.
“This was contact followed by exaggeration, as though the guy’s been poleaxed, and you don’t actually see too much force from the defender.
“For me, it was a soft penalty kick. One of the difficulties, I think in football and particularly from a VAR perspective, is that element of force involved when challenges are made.
“Is that force really force or is it actually the reaction of the player? When there’s contact, he’s going to go down.
“The forward often manufactures contact to then get the award of a penalty kick, and I think referees have got to be very clear.”
Those comments have inevitably raised the question of whether there could be any further consequences for Gassama following the incident.
The prospect of punishment has become part of the wider discussion surrounding the controversial award, particularly given Hackett’s suggestion that the Rangers winger exaggerated the contact.
However, despite the growing debate, there is currently no indication that the Scottish FA has decided to ban Gassama over the incident.
In fact, no such ban has been announced, meaning the Rangers attacker remains available unless any future disciplinary process produces a different outcome.
That distinction is important because criticism of a referee’s decision does not automatically mean that a player will face retrospective punishment.
For now, the controversy remains exactly that — a controversial refereeing decision that has divided opinion.
Is Derek McInnes safe at Ibrox?
Away from the penalty debate, the result itself has helped McInnes and Rangers maintain some momentum.
The 1-0 victory means the Gers are now sitting fourth in the Scottish Premiership, five points behind Celtic.
Rangers’ ambitions will naturally be much higher than fourth place, with the club expected to challenge for the title and secure Champions League football for the 2027-28 campaign.
Yet questions have already been raised about McInnes’ position.
Football Insider understands that the Rangers boss is fighting to keep his job at Ibrox after winning half of his games in charge.
The current three-game winning run has helped ease some of the pressure, but the situation can change quickly at Rangers.
For the moment, McInnes has results on his side, while Gassama has not been handed a ban by the Scottish FA over the Motherwell penalty incident.
The controversy, however, is unlikely to disappear anytime soon — especially after Hackett’s remarkably strong assessment of the decision.
Nafisa
