Departing Rangers captain James Tavernier said injury timing and medical decisions left him unavailable for a farewell appearance at Ibrox.
A farewell at Ibrox was supposed to be the emotional final chapter for James Tavernier, but the Rangers captain’s evening ended in a late, short appearance instead of a full send-off.
Tavernier. 34. revealed on social media why he made himself unavailable for selection for the Wednesday night match against Hibernian under Danny Rohl. explaining that the decision was driven by an ankle injury and the timing of an injection.. The report stated he was expected to bid farewell to Rangers supporters. yet he did not feature in Rohl’s squad for the Premiership game.
While the matchday plans had been shaped around a proper appearance, Tavernier instead stepped onto the pitch just before kick-off.. Rangers legend John Greig presented him with a commemorative plaque before he waved goodbye to fans. a moment that underlined what was at stake emotionally for the captain as he prepared to end his 11-year stint at Ibrox.
In his lengthy statement. Tavernier said the previous 24 hours had been “the most difficult and emotional” for him and his family.. He also insisted he wanted to avoid “any confusion” around his departure and the circumstances surrounding the game. after emotions and behind-the-scenes conversations reportedly became public in a way he felt did not match what had been discussed privately.
Tavernier traced the situation to an ankle knock picked up after the Hearts game.. He said that following discussions with the medical staff. the agreed next step was an injection that was initially scheduled for Thursday.. However. after Sunday’s match and with emotions running high. he made a decision to move the injection forward to Tuesday. a timing he said would have ruled him out of both Wednesday and Saturday’s matches.
Speaking with his family and the medical team throughout Monday. Tavernier said he then opted to delay the injection until Thursday so he could play one final game at Ibrox on Wednesday night.. He added that he personally informed Rohl of the decision and explained how important it was to him and his family to have the chance to say goodbye properly in front of the Ibrox faithful.
He said he had wanted to lead the team out at Ibrox for the last time, with his children walking out as mascots, and claimed Rohl agreed it was “the right decision.” Tavernier further stated that Rohl acknowledged his desire for a “proper send off” and recognized the significance to his family.
The captain also described a personal sacrifice from his son. who is in the Rangers academy. saying the boy had given up an overseas tournament opportunity to walk out with him as a mascot for the final time at Ibrox.. That detail framed the farewell as more than a ceremonial moment. but as something the family had been building towards amid the final stage of his Rangers career.
According to Tavernier. he messaged Rohl on the eve of the match to confirm he would be starting. only to be told later that he would begin the game on the bench.. He said that when he received that information. his emotions took over. and he acknowledged others might feel he could have handled it differently.. Still. he wrote that after dedicating more than a decade to the club. with his family alongside him throughout. he felt “deeply hurt” and let down.
Tavernier also pointed to what he described as the most disappointing part of the fallout: a version of events presented publicly that he said did not reflect the private conversations that had taken place beforehand.. He argued that a lack of communication allowed matters to escalate unnecessarily. particularly given how emotional the occasion was for him and his family.
In his statement. he referenced how his reaction on the pitch illustrated the strain he was carrying. not only about leaving Rangers but about everything that had built up in the lead-up to the game.. He closed by stressing that no individual is bigger than Rangers. insisting that the club must always come first and urging supporters to stay united behind the team and organization moving forward.
The farewell at Ibrox comes after Tavernier had already signaled last month that he was set to end a Rangers career spanning 11 years. a decision that reportedly caught many supporters off guard at the time.. During his spell at the club. he lifted a league title alongside Scottish Cup and League Cup trophies. and he also captained the side to the 2022 Europa League final.
With the matter now shifted to what comes next. Rangers are set to travel to Falkirk on Saturday to close out what has been described as a disappointing campaign.. For Tavernier’s final period in royal blue. the emotional legacy will now be shaped not only by what fans saw before kick-off. but by the injury timeline and the communication breakdown he said prevented a smoother farewell.
James Tavernier Rangers Danny Rohl Ibrox farewell Hibernian ankle injury injection