Rangers midfielder Nico Raskin has found himself at the centre of a post-match storm after soaking an Aberdeen supporter with a water bottle following the Light Blues’ 2-0 victory at Pittodrie.
Despite a commanding performance on the pitch, the Belgian international is facing heavy criticism from pundits and fans alike for his reaction to verbal provocation as the teams headed for the tunnel.
The Pittodrie Flashpoint
As the Rangers squad made their way off the pitch to celebrate a fifth consecutive league win, Sky Sports cameras captured a home supporter directing abuse toward the visiting team. Raskin, positioned near the tunnel entrance, responded by “skooshing” his water bottle at the fan, visibly soaking the supporter’s jacket.
The incident immediately escalated as the irked fan motioned to stewards and subsequently hurled an empty cup back toward the Rangers midfielder. While Raskin was seen smirking as he continued toward the dressing room, the reaction from the footballing world has been far from lighthearted.
“You Must Be the Bigger Person”: Pundits React
The incident sparked an immediate debate on Sky Sports, with former Rangers striker Kris Boyd and Celtic legend Chris Sutton finding rare common ground in their disapproval.
“There is no need for Nico Raskin to do what he did there,” Boyd insisted. “He will probably be in there regretting it now. If you are an away player, you are going to get the fans taunting you. You just need to get on with it and get back down the road.”
Sutton went a step further, calling for official intervention. “This is a powderkeg of a fixture anyway. You can’t keep going around spraying water on fans. It’s an absolute no-no. There needs to be some sort of punishment; otherwise, players will just carry on.”
🗣️ “I don’t think there’s any need for Nico Raskin to do what he did there.”
Kris Boyd and Chris Sutton on the incident involving Nicolas Raskin and a supporter at full-time. pic.twitter.com/cfUnDSgzmI
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) January 11, 2026
The Vaclav Cerny Precedent
Critics were quick to draw comparisons to a similar incident in March 2025, when former Rangers loanee Vaclav Cerny sprayed water at Celtic fans. While Cerny was given a formal warning by the SFA at the time, Police Scotland eventually concluded that “no criminality” had been established.
However, with tensions already high following pre-match brawls in the Granite City, many argue that Raskin’s actions were reckless in such a volatile environment.
Danny Rohl’s Verdict
Rangers boss Danny Rohl appeared to play down the incident in his post-match press conference, focusing instead on the team’s performance. “We want to have a friendly atmosphere, but you feel it today, this place is tough. We showed the right answer on the pitch, and this is what we want,” Rohl stated.
While Raskin may avoid internal wrath from his manager, the SFA may yet take a closer look at the footage to decide if further disciplinary action is required to uphold the “spirit of the game.”
FAQ: Nico Raskin Water Bottle Incident
What did Nico Raskin do to the Aberdeen fan? After the full-time whistle at Pittodrie, Raskin squirted water from his bottle onto a supporter who was shouting at the Rangers players as they entered the tunnel.
Will Nico Raskin be suspended? As of now, no official suspension has been announced. However, pundits like Chris Sutton are calling for the SFA to take disciplinary action.
How did Danny Rohl react to the Raskin incident? Rohl focused on the “tough atmosphere” at Pittodrie and praised his team for giving their answer on the pitch, seemingly avoiding a direct public condemnation of the midfielder.
Co-Founder of Fitba Focus and MMA UK. A lifelong Aberdeen fan with years of experience in the sports media industry, Peter provides expert analysis and a dedicated "Dons" perspective on the Scottish game. He is passionate about giving a voice to fans across the entire Scottish football pyramid.
