A newly revealed video perspective has clarified why Hibernian were awarded a spot kick in their match against Rangers. The penalty was given because Vanja Dragojevic kept his attention fixed entirely on Jason Kerr rather than tracking the ball as the two players clashed inside the penalty area.
The score remained goalless at Ibrox when VAR alerted referee Don Robertson to an off-the-ball battle between Dragojevic and Kerr during an incoming cross.
While few Hibs players appealed for a foul on the pitch, video assistant Matthew McDermid directed the match official to consult the pitchside monitor. Robertson subsequently reversed his initial view and pointed to the spot. Josh Campbell converted the penalty for David Gray’s side, setting up a dramatic 2-1 victory for the Leith outfit in Glasgow.
Pundits weighed in heavily on the call following the match.
Speaking on Premier Sports, former Rangers defender Alan Hutton described the decision as soft, though he acknowledged the rationale behind it. He noted that Dragojevic was staring directly at Kerr rather than watching the ball arrive. While acknowledging both players were actively grappling, Hutton pointed out that Dragojevic’s clear lack of focus on the ball left him vulnerable to the referee’s call.
Tony Docherty echoed those thoughts, pointing out that both players were tussling equally. He observed that Kerr actually placed his hands on Dragojevic’s head during the incident, calling the intervention by VAR unnecessarily pedantic.
Broadcast footage on BBC Sportscene later highlighted a specific camera angle showing the Rangers man turning away from the ball and initiating contact with Kerr.
Former Ibrox midfielder Andy Halliday expressed concern over the precedent the decision might set for the rest of the season. While admitting players take a risk when putting hands on an opponent, Halliday argued that the grapple was equal on both sides, as Kerr had an arm around Dragojevic’s neck. He stated that the incident did not cross the threshold for a penalty and expressed surprise that the referee did not stick with his original on-field call.
Former Celtic captain Scott Brown criticized the defender’s positioning while agreeing the foul was harsh. He noted that Dragojevic’s marking was poor from the outset, giving Kerr too much room. However, Brown argued that contact of that level occurs regularly during set pieces and warned that treating such incidents as fouls would lead to penalties in nearly every match.
Former referees Steve Conroy and Des Roache placed the blame firmly on the video review team. Writing on social media, they described the ruling as unbelievable, arguing that both players were committing offenses and that penalizing only one set an concerning benchmark for future matches.