In a thrilling 3-3 draw between bitter rivals Rangers and Celtic, tensions ran high both on the pitch and in the commentary box as Graeme Souness accused Chris Sutton of potentially influencing VAR decisions with his allegedly biased remarks.

The match at Ibrox saw the two teams battle to a dramatic stalemate, with Rangers clawing back twice to secure a crucial point in the dying moments of the game.

However, controversy struck soon after halftime when Fabio Silva was initially cautioned for simulation after going down in the box under Alistair Johnston’s challenge. Referee John Beaton’s decision was swiftly overturned following VAR advice from Nick Walsh, leading to a penalty kick awarded to Celtic.

James Tavernier successfully converted the penalty to spark Rangers’ comeback, but Sutton, providing co-commentary for Sky Sports, insisted that Silva had exaggerated the fall.

While Souness concurred with Sutton’s view on Silva’s actions, he raised suspicions about the intention behind Sutton’s strong comments, suggesting they might be aimed at swaying VAR’s decision during the lengthy review process.

Souness remarked on talkSPORT, “Silva’s fall was a penalty without a doubt. He’s a diver, and it’s embarrassing. Chris Sutton’s bias is surprising when he talks about Rangers. His strong denial of the penalty incident was uncalled for. It was an obvious penalty, a clear foul.”

Expressing reluctance to criticize Sutton, Souness recalled a recent charity event they attended together, but he questioned Sutton’s objectivity in his commentary during the heated match.

The former Rangers and Liverpool player pondered, “Could the VAR officials be influenced by such strong commentary during a match? It appeared as though Chris was pushing hard with his opinions, almost attempting to sway the decision-makers in the VAR studio with his remarks.

“The unique setup of VAR in Scotland raises questions about its operation. With Chris’s intensity in his commentary, one can’t help but wonder if he was attempting to influence the local VAR procedures in place at the game, rather than the usual VAR hub at Stockley Park.”

Souness’ remarks shed light on the intricate dynamics surrounding VAR decisions and the potential impact of commentators’ opinions during crucial moments in high-stakes matches like the Rangers vs. Celtic showdown.