Rangers boss Clement: Hagi’s red card ‘clumsy’ not malicious
The Romanian midfielder was sent off on his return to action.
Rangers boss Philippe Clement: Ianis Hagi’s red card ‘clumsy’ not maliciousSNS Group
Dismissed: Ianis Hagi was sent off minutes after taking to the field.
PA Media
7 hours ago
Share this story
Copy Link
Philippe Clement claims returning midfielder Ianis Hagi’s late red card in Rangers’ 2-0 William Hill Premiership win over St Johnstone at Ibrox was “clumsy” rather than malicious.
Vaclav Cerny broke the deadlock in the 34th minute and he added a second in the 58th minute before the drama with Hagi began.
The Romania midfielder, who was back in the squad for the first time this season after a contract issue was resolved, came off the bench for the second half to make his first appearance since the League Cup game against Morton in August, 2023 before he went on loan to Spanish side Alaves.
After setting up Cerny for the second goal, he was initially booked for a foul on Saints striker Benjamin Kimpioka in the 80th minute, before a VAR check saw referee David Dickinson upgrade to a red card.
Clement said: “I had the feeling that there was not much intensity and I had a really big doubt about the red card, but if I see the images, it’s a clear red card.
Ad
“There’s no intensity in the tackle, it’s more clumsy, a clumsy challenge from a player who’s tired at that moment.
“It’s really like an attacking player making a foul. Ianis didn’t have any intentions to tackle in that way.
“It was unlucky, but it’s a clear red card, so I’ve nothing to say about that.
“I cannot be disappointed in him, because he’s just in the building, in that way, training with us.
“But I don’t think it will be a really big, big suspension, because you see it’s not with big intensity and it’s more of an unlucky one, but it’s a clear one.”
Cerny missed a sitter against Lyon when it was goalless in Thursday’s 4-1 Europa League defeat by Lyon at Ibrox and Clement was glad to see him find the target twice on Sunday night.
He said: “I’m really happy for him, because from the first moment he came into this club, he’s been working really hard for the team.
“He was really down after Thursday, by missing that chance and he felt really responsible in that way, because he knew it was a really important moment in the beginning of the game.
Ad
“If you score there, you have a totally different momentum in the game and it can be a different game then.
“He talked about that with me and it was a really open and good talk. But he didn’t lose any of my confidence.
“He showed what I wanted to see, after the disappointment, to react and to keep composure and not start to doubt. So I’m really happy for him with two quality goals, but also on the ball and without the ball – doing the right stuff for the team.”
Simo Valakari viewed his first game as Saints boss from the directors’ box while waiting for a work permit with interim boss Andy Kirk, taking charge with Alec Cleland.
Kirk was pleased with the improvement from last week’s 6-0 defeat by Celtic.
He said: “It was a lot more positive. OK, the result again wasn’t what we’d like, but you’re coming to Ibrox against a very strong team.
“Players knew the manager was in the stand watching, so it was obviously them trying to impress as well.
“And I thought first half we worked hard and we our shape was pretty good, but we were really untidy with the ball.
Ad
“Second half, we changed the shape a little bit, which I think helped.
“We’re a little bit better and we posed a bit more of a threat, second half. But there’s positives, definitely positives we can take from that game.”
STV News is now on WhatsApp
Get all the latest news from around the country
Follow STV News
Vaclav Cerny bags brace as 10-man Rangers bounce back to winning ways
Posted in
Football
Rangers F.C.
Today’s Top Stories
UK and Scottish Governments failing to act to reduce poverty, according to new report from Joseph Rowntree Foundation
POVERTY IN SCOTLAND
More than one million Scots still in poverty ‘due to government inaction’
Explosion and house fire reported in Alloa as public urged to avoid area
Edinburgh & East
Fire crews called to ‘explosion and house fire’ as public urged to avoid area
Former care home worker to stand trial accused of killing 90-year-old resident
Glasgow & West
Former care home worker to stand trial accused of killing 90-year-old resident
Taxi driver and three pedestrians in hospital after Union Street crash as police appeal for witnesses
Glasgow & West
Taxi driver and three pedestrians in hospital after crash as police appeal for witnesses
Scottish sheep ‘that thinks he’s a dog’ inspires new children’s book Christopher’s New Home
Play icon
North East & Tayside
Sheep ‘that thinks he’s a dog’ inspires new children’s book
Four charged after ‘violence and disorder’ breaks out in Edinburgh following Hibs v Motherwell match
Edinburgh & East
Four charged after ‘violence and disorder’ breaks out following Hibs v Motherwell match
Woman remains in hospital after attack in Dalkeith as investigations continue
Edinburgh & East
Woman remains in hospital after attack near golf club as investigations continue
Popular Videos
Scotland Tonight: Only 5% of spiking reports received by Police Scotland referred to Crown Office in last year
Play icon
Scotland
Only 5% of spiking reports received by police referred to Crown in last year
Tuk-tuk kitchen delivering healthy eating classes to children across Edinburgh
Play icon
Edinburgh & East
Tuk-tuk kitchen delivering healthy eating classes to children across city
Cat that disappeared on Boxing Day reunited with family seven years after being taken in by friend’s aunt
Play icon
Glasgow & West
Missing cat reunited with family after living with friend’s aunt for seven years
How the UK’s FBI caught the ‘Scottish Tony Soprano’
Play icon
Drugs Trafficking Ring
How the UK’s FBI caught the ‘Scottish Tony Soprano’
Rangers and Scotland legend Ally McCoist pays tribute to late mum after receiving OBE
Play icon
Sport
McCoist pays tribute to late mum after receiving OBE from Prince William
Latest in Football
Rangers boss Philippe Clement: Ianis Hagi’s red card ‘clumsy’ not malicious
Football
Rangers boss Clement: Hagi’s red card ‘clumsy’ not malicious
Vaclav Cerny bags brace as 10-man Rangers bounce back to winning ways
Football
Vaclav Cerny bags brace as 10-man Rangers bounce back to winning ways
Jimmy Thelin savours ‘amazing’ day at raucous Pittodrie as Aberdeen beat Hearts
Play icon
Football
Thelin savours ‘amazing’ day at raucous Pittodrie as Aberdeen beat Hearts
Duk stars as Aberdeen battle past Hearts to maintain perfect start to season
Football
Duk stars as Aberdeen battle past Hearts to maintain perfect start to season
Brendan Rodgers applauds Celtic’s resilience and tradition after dramatic win
Play icon
Football
Rodgers applauds Celtic’s resilience and tradition after dramatic win
Celtic leave it late as Nicolas Kuhn snatches winner at Ross County
Football
Celtic leave it late as Nicolas Kuhn snatches winner at Ross County
Stephen Robinson defends Ellery Balcombe after error against Dundee United
Football
Robinson defends goalkeeper Balcombe after error against Dundee United
Trending Now
Parents of child shot dead at farm pay tribute to ‘kind, full of mischief’ son
UK & International
Parents of child shot dead at farm pay tribute to ‘kind, full of mischief’ son
Are politicians and brands slaying the Gen Z TikTok trend – or is it pure cringe?
Play icon
Scotland
Are politicians and brands slaying the Gen Z TikTok trend – or is it pure cringe?
Where can I see the Northern Lights in Scotland this weekend?
Scotland
Where can I see the Northern Lights in Scotland this weekend?
Where to now?
PlayerCompetitionsWhat’s on TVAppeal
Follow us on X / Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on WhatsApp
Follow us on Instagram
Who we areTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeContact UsCookie NoticeManage your Privacy Settings
STV Logo
Copyright © 2007-2024 STV. All rights reserved.
Back to top
