Kris Boyd has hit back at Chris Sutton’s claims that John Souttar should have been shown a red card during Rangers’ clash with Hibernian, after the defender was penalised for handball.
The first half at Ibrox was full of VAR drama, beginning with Tom Lawrence’s goal being disallowed for offside.
However, VAR official Kevin Clancy intervened, instructing referee Nick Walsh to review the decision on the pitchside monitor. After doing so, Walsh overturned the offside call, allowing the goal to stand and putting Rangers ahead.
Hibs were then awarded a penalty when Mykola Kukharevych’s close-range shot struck Souttar’s arm as he attempted to block the effort.
Initially, Walsh waved play on, but VAR once again stepped in, resulting in a spot-kick for the visitors. Kukharevych stepped up, but Jack Butland saved the penalty, sparing Rangers further trouble.
At half-time, Boyd, a Rangers favourite, defended the officials’ decisions when speaking to Sky Sports.
He supported the call to allow Lawrence’s goal, despite Sutton’s complaints. Boyd remarked: “It is great movement to get the shot away.
“Even Chris Sutton would say that is onside – although I have had a few messages from him complaining. But, it’s an unbelievable finish when he cuts it back in.”
The conversation then turned to the handball incident involving Souttar. Sutton, ever the provocateur, questioned why Souttar wasn’t sent off, but Boyd was quick to shut that down.
Responding on air, he explained: “Can I just clear something up? My big friend has text me asking why he hasn’t been sent off.
“He has not been sent off because Jack Butland was behind him and he would have saved it. It’s not denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, so there you go Mr Sutton. He text me straight away asking ‘why no red card?’.”
The back-and-forth between Boyd and Sutton added an extra layer of tension to what was already a high-stakes encounter at Ibrox.