Rangers controversy erupts as Keith Hackett gives verdict on Mohamed Diomande moment vs Falkirk

Former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee Keith Hackett has given his verdict on the controversial Mohamed Diomande penalty incident during Rangers’ 5-2 victory over Falkirk, insisting the referee made the correct decision despite debate surrounding the call.

Rangers wrapped up their Scottish Premiership season with an entertaining win at Falkirk Stadium on Saturday afternoon, though the match was not without refereeing controversy. Much of the discussion in Scottish football this week had already centred on the fallout from Celtic’s dramatic late penalty in midweek — a moment that ultimately helped them edge Hearts to the title on the final day — and Rangers’ clash with Falkirk produced another contentious decision for fans to dissect.

The Gers finished their campaign on a positive note, with Youssef Chermiti stealing the headlines after scoring a hat-trick. Djeidi Gassama also found the net, while Thelo Aasgaard converted from the penalty spot as Rangers eventually pulled away to secure a convincing victory.

However, one of the major talking points came before the break when Falkirk were handed a penalty after Mohamed Diomande was penalised for handball following a lengthy VAR review. At first glance, the decision appeared harsh to many supporters, with Diomande looking to have little chance of avoiding contact as the ball struck his arm.

Despite the debate surrounding the incident, Hackett was quick to defend referee Duncan Nicolson’s call, stating that the official had made the right judgement in awarding the penalty. According to the former referee chief, there was sufficient contact involving Diomande to justify the decision, even if Rangers fans felt hard done by.

The penalty allowed Falkirk to stay in contention before half-time, with Calvin Miller converting from the spot in the 43rd minute to reduce the deficit to 3-2 and keep the hosts in the game heading into the interval.

Thankfully for Rangers, the controversial decision did not prove costly. Danny Röhl’s side responded strongly after the restart and regained control of proceedings, later earning a penalty of their own that Aasgaard calmly converted as they ended a miserable run of four straight defeats.

While the result offered some relief, it is unlikely to erase the disappointment surrounding what has otherwise been a poor campaign for Rangers. Finishing third behind both Celtic and Hearts has fallen well below expectations, and questions remain over several key figures at the club after a season filled with inconsistency and frustration.

Still, supporters may take encouragement from the team’s attacking display against Falkirk, even if the match carried little pressure by that stage of the campaign.

Elsewhere, attention remained firmly fixed on the title race, where Celtic defeated Hearts 3-1 in a dramatic showdown to clinch the Scottish Premiership crown. Refereeing decisions once again became a major talking point, with lingering anger over key moments from recent matches adding to frustration among rival supporters.

For Rangers, attention will now turn toward rebuilding over the summer, with hopes that the pain of this season can be used as motivation to mount a stronger title challenge when the new campaign begins.