Hamza Igamane declines to play for Rangers in St Mirren draw

Monday 25 August 2025 - 15:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Hamza Igamane declines to play for Rangers in St Mirren draw

Rangers head coach Russell Martin has revealed that Moroccan international Hamza Igamane refused to come on as a substitute during the team’s 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw against St Mirren. The incident has sparked questions about the player’s commitment amid ongoing transfer speculation.

According to Martin, Igamane trained normally in preparation for the match and completed the warm-up on Sunday in Paisley. However, when asked to enter the game as Rangers searched for an equaliser, the 21-year-old claimed he was injured.

“I turned around to him at 60 minutes and Hamza told me he’s injured,” Martin said in an interview with Sky Sports. “I have to trust him, but we’ll see.”

Martin hinted that uncertainty surrounding the transfer window may be affecting the team, including Igamane. “We had a bid for Hamza this week, and we rejected it. He trained fine and warmed up fine, but there are too many players with one eye on the door. We need people who are fully committed to this football club,” he added.

Rangers ultimately substituted 18-year-old Findlay Curtis, who scored the equaliser to secure a point. Despite the comeback, the draw leaves Rangers winless in their first three league games for the first time since 1989.

Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd criticized Igamane’s alleged injury, suggesting the player might be angling for a move. “If he’s injured, he’s injured, but I highly doubt it,” Boyd told Sky Sports. “If I were Rangers, I’d drive him to the airport. You need players who are ready to fight for the team.”

Martin echoed the sentiment, stressing the need for clarity as the transfer window nears its end. “The window needs to shut quickly. We need the right characters in the dressing room and people fully committed to the club,” he said.

The incident has raised concerns about team morale and the influence of transfer speculation on player performance as Rangers navigate a challenging start to the season.