Rangers boss Steven Gerrard and a collection of the Ibrox club’s players refused to acknowledge Hibs player Ryan Porteous in the aftermath of the club’s 2-2 draw with Hibs.
Porteous was lucky to remain on the pitch with many fans feeling he was by-and-large afforded added protection by referee Don Robertson to physically over-impose himself on the Rangers side.
According to journalist Jordan Campbell, Alfredo Morelos, James Tavernier and the Gers gaffer refused to acknowledge the player with Gerrard exchanging words with the defender.
“Porteous not popular with Rangers. Morelos, Tavernier and Gerrard all refusing to acknowledge him on the way in to the dressing room. A few words had between the latter two.”
There was also a distinct lack of sportsmanship in the defender’s play, with the defender turning to over-aggressive challenges and flying elbows to try to contend with Rangers.
Porteous was sent off for a vicious challenge on Borna Barisic in the same fixture last season but referee Don Robertson decided that this wasn’t to be the case this time around.
The defender slammed Alfredo Morelos with an elbow in the first half for which he was booked and the officials allowed the player to push the boundaries of a second throughout the match.
Morelos was then yellow carded for hissing at referee Don Robertson when he gave no free-kick for Porteous blocking the striker off as he knocked it by him.
But whilst fans and players might complain about Porteous’ style, it clearly works for a team playing at the level of Hibs, with the Easter Road club celebrating gaining a point against Rangers.
The officials were resoundingly slammed by the Rangers support for a range of bad decisions which included allowing Hibs’ equaliser to stand despite it being offside in the build-up.
