Chris Sutton fumed with frustration when Rangers were granted a contentious penalty early in the second half of their fierce Old Firm battle against Celtic at Ibrox.
Celtic quickly surged ahead as Daizen Maeda capitalized on a defensive lapse by Rangers’ captain James Tavernier. In a dramatic turn of events, Celtic were later awarded a penalty, expertly converted by Matt O’Riley for his first goal in the Old Firm clash.
Fabio Silva, the Rangers forward on loan from Premier League side Wolves, found himself at the center of multiple contentious incidents. One such moment saw him initially cautioned for simulation before ultimately being awarded a penalty following VAR review.
Alistair Johnston caught Silva with a trailing leg, but the replay raised doubts about the forward’s ease of falling. Chris Sutton, not one to mince words, openly criticized Silva’s actions, deeming the penalty decision questionable.
“This situation is simply embarrassing if a penalty is awarded,” Sutton remarked during his commentary stint. “Silva was already on his way down. Clearly, there was no obvious mistake here.”
Despite the protests, a penalty was awarded and Tavernier showcased composure by successfully converting the spot-kick. Despite Joe Hart’s correct dive, the precision of Tavernier’s strike left him with no chance of a save.
Shortly after, Rangers appeared to have tied the game as Cyriel Dessers found the net from close range amidst a scramble in the box, leading to jubilation among the Ibrox faithful.
However, celebrations were abruptly halted when Tom Lawrence was adjudged to have fouled Reo Hatate in the build-up. Rangers manager Philippe Clement appeared incredulous at the decision, visibly reacting with a mixture of disbelief and amusement from the sidelines.
The result of this crucial derby significantly impacts the Scottish Premier League title race. Prior to kick-off, Celtic led by a point over Rangers with an extra game played. Late drama, including Rangers’ two equalizers, ultimately kept them trailing by a single point behind Brendan Rodgers’ side.