In the recent round of lively discussions on Sky Sports, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton engaged in a playful back-and-forth with ex-Rangers player and current pundit Kris Boyd. The banter began when Boyd criticized Celtic’s Reo Hatate for what he perceived as a dive during their 3-0 triumph over St Mirren. This exchange was further spiced up by Rangers’ subsequent stumble against Ross County.

Boyd, known for his staunch loyalty to Rangers, didn’t hold back as he highlighted a moment in the match, questioning Hatate’s actions: “We didn’t see Hatate taking a knock in the first half when he went down.” The irony wasn’t lost on many, given Rangers’ recent controversy surrounding a penalty won through what seemed like a dive by Fabio Silva in the Glasgow derby.

Sutton, famous for his sharp wit and love for stirring the pot, swiftly responded to Boyd’s remarks on Sky Sports. Despite acknowledging Hatate’s theatrics, Sutton humorously confirmed, “Yes, he did go down easily, indeed he dived.” Unable to resist adding a cheeky jab, Sutton slyly referred to Silva’s previous simulation, quipping, “It seems to be a trend, doesn’t it? I wonder where he picked it up from…” with a knowing wink at the Rangers forward’s actions.

Sutton’s arrival at Sky Sports earlier this season was in part due to criticisms that Boyd’s analyses were solely coming from a pro-Ibrox angle. After Rangers’ moral 3-3 victory over Celtic, complaints about Sutton’s alleged bias surfaced, although they seemed as weightless as Boyd fretting over a Celtic player’s fall.

In a twist of fate, Hatate dusted himself off after the incident at Celtic Park and went on to score a spectacular opening goal, paving the way for a 3-0 win for the bhoys. All’s well that ends well in the world of Scottish football banter.