Chris Sutton Breaks Silence Amid Huge Backlash Following Sky Sports Comments About Kris Boyd and Barry Ferguson
Chris Sutton, the outspoken Celtic legend and Sky Sports pundit, has finally addressed the storm of controversy sparked by his recent comments about Rangers interim manager Barry Ferguson and fellow pundit Kris Boyd. The remarks, made during a heated live broadcast on April 13, 2025, ahead of Rangers’ Scottish Premiership clash with Aberdeen, ignited a fierce backlash from Rangers fans and drew a sharp response from both Ferguson and Boyd. Sutton’s characterization of Ferguson as a “chest beater” and his dismissal of Rangers’ celebrations after a late equalizer at Pittodrie have been widely debated, prompting the former Celtic striker to break his silence and clarify his stance.
The controversy erupted during Sky Sports’ pre-match coverage of Aberdeen vs. Rangers, a game that ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw after Rangers clawed back from a 2-0 deficit with a last-gasp equalizer from Ianis Hagi. The match was significant as it delayed Celtic’s chance to clinch their 13th Scottish Premiership title in 14 seasons. During the broadcast, Sutton and Boyd were asked about Ferguson’s prospects of becoming Rangers’ permanent manager, given his interim role until the end of the season.
Boyd, a former Rangers striker and teammate of Ferguson, argued that Ferguson was unlikely to get the job due to an impending takeover by US investors, including health insurance tycoon Andrew Cavenagh and Gretar Steinsson of the San Francisco 49ers, who would likely appoint their own manager. Sutton, however, took a more direct approach, stating bluntly, “He can’t be Rangers manager. I think he’s a bit of a chest beater as a manager, that’s the way he seems to me. It’s always Rangers are really high after a victory, really low after a defeat.” He further suggested that even a Europa League win wouldn’t justify giving Ferguson the role full-time.
Sutton didn’t stop there. Post-match, he criticized Rangers’ celebrations after Hagi’s equalizer, calling them “pathetic” and “desperate,” arguing that a draw against Aberdeen, with Rangers 15 points behind Celtic, was nothing to celebrate. “We can sit here and skirt round it and say ‘the title isn’t over’, but it’s absolutely over,” Sutton said on Sky Sports. Boyd fired back, defending the team’s passion: “You’re just raging because you can’t get down for a party! Barry’s not going to be happy with the point but will be with the circumstances of coming back from 2-0 down with 10 men.”
Sutton’s comments triggered an immediate uproar among Rangers supporters, who flooded social media with criticism, accusing him of bias due to his Celtic ties. Fans labeled his “chest beater” remark as disrespectful to Ferguson,…
