Robbie Savage stood by his opinion that referee John Beaton made the right call in awarding Rangers a penalty against Celtic, despite Chris Sutton sticking to his belief that it was the incorrect decision.

During the intense clash between the two Glasgow rivals, James Tavernier had the opportunity to narrow the gap for Rangers, who were trailing 2-0 against Brendan Rodgers’ side. The VAR intervened after Fabio Silva was fouled in the box by Alistair Johnston, prompting Beaton to consult the pitchside monitor before awarding the penalty.

This crucial moment provided Rangers with a lifeline in the thrilling 3-3 Old Firm showdown, yet opinions were divided among pundits regarding the extent of contact between Johnston and Silva. Savage was unwavering in his support for the referee’s call, praising the game’s excitement while trying to provoke Sutton on BBC Radio 606.

“It was an electrifying match, truly a spectacle for the neutrals. Clearly a penalty on Silva, right? The ref made the correct decision, it was definitely a penalty,” Savage affirmed.

Sutton quickly countered, accusing Savage of attempting to provoke him, to which Savage persisted, emphasizing the contact and the legitimacy of the penalty decision. However, Sutton shifted his focus to VAR’s involvement in the incident, questioning the necessity of its intervention.

“There needs to be significant contact, Rob. Silva kept going down during the game. There were numerous instances before that, and he fell again. He even received a yellow card for simulation. Was it a blatantly wrong decision? Was the contact adequate, Rob? C’mon, you’re just saying that,” Sutton argued.

Savage remained steadfast in his stance, pointing out multiple camera angles that supported his belief, while Sutton contended that Silva was already in the process of falling. Despite their conflicting views, the debate between the two pundits added another layer of intrigue to the contentious penalty decision in the heated Old Firm encounter.