Alious
The Scottish Football Association is expected to launch an official investigation into the post-match scenes at Pittodrie after Rangers and Aberdeen played out a fiery 2-2 draw on Sunday. Tensions spilled over at the final whistle following a dramatic encounter that saw Rangers fight back from two goals down despite being reduced to ten men.
Aberdeen took a commanding lead in the first half, capitalising on the numerical advantage after Ross McCausland was dismissed for two bookable offences. However, second-half goals from Hamza Igamane and Ianis Hagi salvaged a point for Rangers, with the latter scoring in stoppage time to spark scenes of celebration—and confrontation.
**SFA to Review Post-Match Incidents**
According to former FIFA referee Keith Hackett, the Scottish FA will be closely reviewing footage of the aftermath, where tempers flared between players. Speaking exclusively to *Ibrox News*, Hackett confirmed that disciplinary officials at Hampden will be examining the conduct of both clubs to assess whether any charges are necessary.
“This is exactly the type of incident that the Scottish FA will scrutinise,” Hackett said. “They’ll be evaluating whether Rangers and Aberdeen failed to maintain control of their players following the final whistle.”
The footage in question appears to show Aberdeen’s Graeme Shinnie becoming involved in a heated exchange with Rangers duo John Souttar and Nico Raskin, with Shinnie needing to be held back by teammates as emotions ran high.
**Ferguson Unapologetic Over Team Spirit**
Rangers interim boss Barry Ferguson is unlikely to be overly concerned about the probe, particularly given the spirited response from his players. Sources close to the club suggest Ferguson viewed the passionate response as a sign of unity and fight, especially in the wake of a massive squad rotation—he made nine changes from the side that drew 0-0 with Athletic Bilbao in Europe.
Ferguson’s strategy was clearly geared toward preserving his top stars for the return leg of the Europa League quarter-final in Spain on Thursday. Despite this, his reshuffled side showed grit and resilience to claim a valuable point in difficult circumstances.
**Rivalry Reignited but Title Race All But Settled**
Although the Aberdeen-Rangers rivalry produced another intense chapter, the wider context of the season remains unchanged—Celtic are on the brink of securing the Premiership crown. Nevertheless, the dramatic scenes at Pittodrie reignited the fire between two of Scottish football’s biggest names.
While it’s unlikely that Souttar or Raskin will face disciplinary action for their roles—widely seen as minimal—the Scottish FA’s review could still result in charges for the clubs based on a broader failure to control players during the post-match scuffle.
As the dust settles, both Rangers and Aberdeen may find themselves answering to the authorities—but the passion on display only underscores the stakes as the season nears its climax.
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