Fan Frenzy and Applause for His Clever Quips In the high-stakes world of Scottish football punditry,

Sutton’s Quick-Witted Response to Boyd Ignites Fan Frenzy and Applause for His Clever Quips
In the high-stakes world of Scottish football punditry, where rivalries run deep and opinions are rarely subtle, Chris Sutton has once again proven why he’s a master of the mic. The former Celtic striker, now a prominent Sky Sports pundit, delivered a razor-sharp retort to his Rangers counterpart Kris Boyd during a heated discussion, sparking widespread buzz among fans and earning praise for his quick wit. The exchange, centered around a controversial red card incident, has become the talk of the terraces, with many lauding Sutton’s ability to blend humor, insight, and a touch of mischief in his remarks.
The stage was set during Sky Sports’ coverage of Rangers’ 3-1 victory over Dundee United on January 26, 2025. The match, while a win for Rangers, was overshadowed by a contentious stoppage-time red card shown to Rangers midfielder Mohamed Diomande. Referee Nick Walsh, after consulting VAR, upheld his decision to send Diomande off for an alleged swing at Dundee United’s Kevin Holt, a call that left Rangers manager Philippe Clement fuming and Boyd, a former Rangers striker, branding the decision “embarrassing.”
Enter Chris Sutton, Boyd’s sparring partner and a pundit known for his unapologetic takes. While Boyd urged Rangers to appeal the red card “pronto,” Sutton, with a glint in his eye, delivered a quip that had the studio in stitches: “Slapping simply isn’t allowed.” The four-word zinger, dripping with sarcasm, not only shut down Boyd’s outrage but also framed the incident in a way that resonated with fans watching at home. The studio, according to reports, “cracked up” over what was dubbed a “quip for the ages,” with host Eilidh Barbour barely containing her amusement.
The remark quickly went viral, with social media platforms like X lighting up as fans dissected the exchange. Celtic supporters, in particular, reveled in Sutton’s ability to get under Boyd’s skin, with one user posting, “Sutton’s at it again, winding up Boyd and Rangers fans with one line. Absolute gold.” Others praised his knack for cutting through the noise with humor, with comments like, “Sutton doesn’t just pundit; he performs. That slap line was chef’s kiss.”
Even neutral fans appreciated the entertainment value. A Reddit thread on r/ScottishFootball exploded with reactions, with one user writing, “Sutton’s quick wit makes these debates worth watching. Boyd’s raging, and Chris just leans into it with a smirk. Pantomime? Maybe, but it’s bloody good telly.” Another added, “Love him or hate him, Sutton’s got a brain and a tongue sharper than most. Boyd didn’t stand a chance.”
Rangers fans, predictably, were less enthused. Some took to forums like FollowFollow.com to vent, with one user fuming, “Sutton’s a troll, plain and simple. Calling Boyd an idiot on air and now this? Sky needs to rein him in.” Others, however, begrudgingly acknowledged Sutton’s verbal dexterity, with a commenter noting, “He’s a wind-up merchant, but you can’t deny he’s good at it. Boyd needs to step up or he’ll keep getting rinsed.”
The Sutton-Boyd dynamic is no stranger to headlines. Both former players turned pundits wear their club allegiances on their sleeves—Sutton for Celtic, Boyd for Rangers—making their on-air clashes a microcosm of the Old Firm rivalry. Their history is littered with barbs, from Sutton’s jibe last year about Celtic catching Rangers’ title record (a prediction that came true in April 2025, much to Boyd’s chagrin) to Boyd’s 2017 Instagram clapback accusing Sutton of hypocrisy.
What sets Sutton apart, fans and analysts agree, is his ability to combine sharp analysis with theatrical flair. As one Celtic blog put it, “Watching Sutton and Boyd debate is like watching