Rangers midfielder Nico Raskin is under investigation by the Scottish Football Association after a post-match altercation where he appeared to douse an Aberdeen supporter with a water bottle. The flashpoint occurred following Rangers' crucial 2-0 away victory at Pittodrie on Sunday, a result that moved them back into second place in the Scottish Premiership.
Post-Match Flashpoint at Pittodrie
Sky Sports cameras captured the moment shortly after the final whistle, with Raskin seemingly involved in a confrontation with a home fan near the players' tunnel. Footage appeared to show the Belgian player spraying liquid from a bottle towards the supporter, after which a cup was thrown in Raskin's direction. The match itself had been tense, with reports of fan clashes in Aberdeen before kick-off and an object being thrown at Rangers defender Manny Fernandez during the first half.
Pundits Condemn Raskin's Actions
The incident drew immediate criticism from television analysts. Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd stated players must "rise above it", while ex-Celtic forward Chris Sutton called it an "absolute no-no". Both highlighted a precedent from last season, where former Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny received a formal SFA warning for similar conduct in an Old Firm match. Paul Hartley, the former Celtic and Hearts midfielder, also suggested a punishment was likely, urging players to be the "bigger person and walk away".
Rangers manager Danny Rohl declined to comment directly on the controversy, focusing instead on his team's performance. "We want to play football on the pitch," Rohl said. "This is a tough place to go when you are Rangers... But we showed the right answers on the pitch."
Rangers' Form and Title Ambitions
Despite the off-field drama, the match itself underscored Rangers' impressive resurgence under Rohl. Goals from Thelo Aasgaard and a James Tavernier penalty secured a fifth consecutive win. Since Rohl's appointment, the team has won 11 of 14 league games, drawing two and losing only one. The victory puts them three points behind leaders Hearts.
Rohl expressed confidence in his side's title credentials, saying, "If we continue to do our job until the end, like we are doing at the moment, then it will be hard to stop us." Captain James Tavernier praised the "proper performance" and the travelling support who braved poor conditions.
The SFA is now expected to review the incident involving Raskin, with a formal warning or further sanction a distinct possibility as the governing body looks to clamp down on player-fan interactions.
