Sources: UEFA officials in Nice hotel made aware of Rangers star outburst, ban likely

Dujon Sterling faces a lengthy Europa League ban for his social media comments after Rangers’ win over OGC Nice on Thursday, Ibrox News understands.

The 25-year-old took to his personal X account after the 4-1 Europa League win in France to say that referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea was “desperate” to give the Ligue 1 club a penalty.

In the sixth minute of the game at the Allianz Riviera, Bengoetxea awarded Nice a penalty before assessing three different incidents on the pitchside monitor.

The 38-year-old Spanish referee looked at potential handballs by John Souttar and Sterling and a potential foul by Connor Barron before overturning his original decision.

Rangers star Sterling faces UEFA sanction after late-night post

Ibrox News has now been told by a source with knowledge of the situation that UEFA officials have been made aware of Sterling’s overnight message in their hotel in Nice on Friday morning (29 November).

Former FIFA and Premier League referee Keith Hackett has already told Ibrox News that Sterling faces a “huge risk” of being banned for three matches due to his social media comments.

It is understood that Sterling’s comments could be deemed to be questioning Bengoetxea’s integrity even though it’s highly likely the Rangers star is only joking.

If the former Chelsea player is banned for three UEFA games, he would miss the Gers’ home clash with Tottenham on 12 December, their away trip to Old Trafford to play Manchester United on 23 January and their final league stage game against Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox on 30 January.

Sterling has played 19 times in all competitions for the Light Blues this season, featuring mainly as a right-back or in the centre of Philippe Clement’s midfield.

He assisted Mohamed Diomande’s goal in the impressive win over Nice on Thursday night before being substituted off in the 62nd minute to be replaced by James Tavernier.

In other Rangers news, Jack Butland hailed one of his Gers teammates after their “outstanding” win against OGC Nice.

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