Athletic Club v Rangers FC - UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg Nico Williams left winger of Athletic Club and Spaincelebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between Athletic Club and Rangers FC at Estadio de San Mames on April 17, 2025 in Bilbao, Spain. Bilbao Spain PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: Imago Images
Belgium’s crushing 4-1 victory over the USA in the early hours of Tuesday morning has sent the Scottish football phone lines into overdrive.
Nico Raskin was at the heart of the action, providing an assist for Charles De Ketelaere as Belgium demolished the Americans in the last eight of the World Cup.
The performance has prompted Rangers supporters to reassess the midfielder’s market value, with his stock rising sharply on the global stage.
Chris Lowe from Yoker drew a pointed comparison with a certain Celtic rival, saying: “With bit part player Arne Engels being touted for a laughable £25million for scoring 17 goals in two seasons 12 of them from the spot, what price can Rangers expect for Raskin who’s the driving force behind getting Belgium to the last eight of the World Cup?”
Lowe went further, adding: “If he played across the city we’d be looking at £50 million rated headlines from the usual suspects.”
Bologna’s Lewis Ferguson has been mentioned as a potential replacement signing, but not everyone on the Hotline is convinced by the hype surrounding the Scotland international.
Donald Dundas from Uddingston urged caution, saying: “I suggest that he is not yet a world class player. He is playing in a poor Italian league at the moment. If he was outstanding every week in the Premier League or for the likes of PSG or Madrid then fair enough.”
Dundas added: “I didn’t think he even stood out in the World Cup but neither did many of our lot. He might be a ‘Rangers man’ but so am I. And that doesn’t make him a league winning maestro.”
Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s red card continues to dominate conversation, after President Donald Trump reportedly called FIFA chief Gianni Infantino urging a review of the decision.
The ban was ultimately postponed, though it did little to prevent Belgium from running out comfortable winners against the host nation’s side.
Hugh McKirdy emailed his frustration, writing: “Would FIFA have overturned a red card for say Grant Hanley or a player from say Ghana? Not a chance! It’s selective on who’s involved and just typical of what has become of the greed that now engulfs what is supposed to be the people’s game.”
Philip Borland was equally scathing, saying: “Well, it shows you that Donald Trump is running the World Cup and not FIFA. Trump phones the FIFA president to get a USA player reinstated and he does. It’s a joke, the president of FIFA should resign immediately.”
John Scott from Port Glasgow suggested the controversy warranted a technological solution, saying: “Given Donald Trump’s failed attempt to put his thumb on the scales regarding Balogun, perhaps it’s time to expand the scope of VAR to FIFA officials as well.”
Davy Cook took the opportunity to widen the political commentary, asking: “Now that world leaders are getting in on the act on football decisions, when is John Swinney going to step in and get Hearts awarded last season’s title which they were robbed of?”
Gary Stevenson from Newtonhill could not resist a dig across the Glasgow divide, quipping: “Changing referees decisions and having influence over FIFA? Who does Donald Trump think he is, Martin O’Neill?”
Closer to home, Drew Ferguson from Oban argued that Rangers still lack a key ingredient despite already bringing five new players through the door this summer.
Ferguson said: “Rangers recruitment so far lacks one thing – creativity. Like every other year they will face low blocks every week and until we sign players like Cerny we will struggle.”
He concluded that new signing Lawrence Shankland’s success would depend entirely on quality service, saying: “Lawrence Shankland will score goals if and only if someone creates the chances for him.”
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