Rangers have managed to create yet another bizarre chapter in the increasingly strange John Souttar saga. The Ibrox defender has appeared in the official 2026/27 Rangers squad photograph, much to the bemusement of supporters. However, eagle eyed fans have noticed something rather peculiar about the separate defensive group photograph. The whole business has reignited the John Souttar Rangers mystery.

Rangers fans spot the contradiction

The main Rangers team photograph features Souttar alongside his teammates, despite his extraordinary absence from Derek McInnes’ plans.

Indeed, one supporter reacted with surprise, asking whether that really was Souttar appearing in the photograph.

However, the real eyebrow raiser concerns the separate photograph featuring Rangers’ defenders.

Souttar does not appear in that particular image, despite officially remaining an Ibrox player and a recognised Scotland international.

Consequently, Rangers supporters have every reason to wonder exactly what message the club intends to send.

After all, either Souttar belongs to the Rangers squad or he does not.

The Souttar situation gets stranger

The John Souttar Rangers mystery has dragged on for months without anything resembling a satisfactory explanation.

McInnes has effectively frozen the Scotland international out of his competitive plans, despite the defender remaining under contract.

Furthermore, Rangers handed Souttar a contract extension before this extraordinary situation developed.

Therefore, supporters understandably question how a player can suddenly become so completely irrelevant to the first team.

Meanwhile, the club continues to offer little meaningful clarity about the circumstances, despite the ongoing speculation.

The latest photographic contradiction hardly helps matters.

A curious message from Ibrox

Of course, photographs alone cannot establish what happens behind closed doors at Rangers.

Nevertheless, the distinction between including Souttar in the main squad and excluding him from the defensive group looks peculiar.

Indeed, supporters might reasonably conclude that Rangers acknowledge his contractual existence without recognising his sporting relevance.

Alternatively, perhaps the whole thing reflects nothing more sinister than an innocent photographic decision.

However, given everything surrounding Souttar’s extraordinary exile, such an explanation hardly removes the curiosity.

Moreover, the apparent contradiction simply invites further speculation about a player whose Rangers future once appeared secure.

Rangers owe supporters some clarity

Ultimately, the John Souttar Rangers mystery continues to generate more questions than answers.

Rangers have a contracted international defender who apparently cannot get anywhere near McInnes’ competitive squad.

Yet, bizarrely, he remains sufficiently involved to feature in the official team photograph.

Meanwhile, his absence from the defenders section raises another eyebrow entirely.

Nobody should pretend this proves anything sinister. However, the optics remain distinctly odd.

For Rangers supporters, the whole affair has become something of a running joke.

Nevertheless, beneath the amusement sits a serious question about how Rangers manage their players, particularly given their original commitment to Souttar.

And until somebody at Ibrox finally explains Souttar’s situation, even something as simple as a team photograph will continue attracting scrutiny.