Chris Sutton has hit back at Graeme Souness over his claims he was biased during commentary duties for the weekend's Rangers vs Celtic match.
The Rangers hero yesterday suggested the ex-Hoops striker was trying to influence Nick Walsh on VAR at Clydesdale House.
He said on talkSPORT that the way Sutton was speaking on comms was as if he wanted to sway anyone's opinion who was watching, as he wondered if those in charge of VAR would've been tuning in.
But Sutton has taken offence to Souness' comments, insisting that maybe VAR should've had Sky Sports on as they would've then clocked Fabio Silva's 'dive' when Rangers were eventually awarded a penalty in the second half.
He hit back at Souness, telling the 70-year-old that while he has plenty of respect for him and his stature in the game, he's talking 'utter nonsense' on this occasion.
He told the Daily Record: “I have a lot of respect for Graeme as a player, manager and pundit.
“But he is talking utter nonsense to suggest I was trying to somehow influence VAR. It would have been better if Nick Walsh WAS watching Sky Sports – as the officials might have made the right call rather than rewarding cheating.
“I don’t know what he was watching when he called Beaton to the monitor, but it certainly wasn’t the TV coverage. Even in the unlikely event if they were, I’m not sure what kind of power Graeme thinks I wield. Does he think I’m God?! I don’t have that kind of sway unfortunately – give me another few months!
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“In seriousness, it wasn’t a Celtic thing or a Rangers thing, I just called that incident as I saw it. If anything I suspect Graeme has the Rangers blinkers on as there is no way he’d think that was a penalty if any other team was involved. And having watched it over and over again, NOTHING has changed my mind about the incident. It is still not a penalty kick.
“Johnston clearly gets a touch on the ball and redirects its path. Silva sees the leg out and takes his chance to throw himself into it. Silva initiated the slight contact and are we supposed to reward simulation or stamp it out?
“He was rolling around all afternoon and this was another example. His behaviour was embarrassing. Beaton was close to the scene and his initial interpretation was spot on.
“He could see it in real time and he was right to show him a yellow card for yet another dive. I just can’t understand why Walsh got involved. The fact people can even debate it means it wasn’t a clear and obvious error from the referee in the first place.”
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