“Is He Allowed to Say That?” – Chris Sutton Questions Barry Ferguson’s Unprofessional Interview Regarding Celtic Amid Title Race Drama
The Scottish Premiership title race has always been a hotbed of passion, rivalry, and controversy, but the latest chapter in the Celtic-Rangers saga has taken the drama to new heights. At the center of the storm is former Celtic star and pundit Chris Sutton, who has publicly questioned the professionalism of Rangers interim manager Barry Ferguson following comments made in an interview that appeared to downplay Celtic’s dominance in the race for honors. As Celtic close in on a record-equaling 55th league title, Sutton’s remarks have sparked debate about whether Ferguson’s statements crossed a line—or whether Sutton is simply stirring the pot, as he’s known to do.
With Celtic holding a commanding lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, the 2024/25 season has been a one-sided affair in the race for the title. Despite Rangers’ resurgence under interim boss Barry Ferguson—who has overseen notable victories, including a rare win at Celtic Park and progress in the Europa League—the Ibrox side remain 13 points adrift of their rivals. Celtic’s relentless consistency, driven by Brendan Rodgers’ tactical nous, has left little room for doubt about the destination of the championship trophy.
However, tensions flared when Ferguson, in a post-match interview following Rangers’ dramatic 4-3 comeback win against Dundee, made comments that appeared to dismiss Celtic’s dominance and suggested that Rangers were “turning things around.” The remarks, which some interpreted as overly optimistic given the gap in the standings, drew the ire of Chris Sutton, who was on commentary duty for Sky Sports. Sutton branded Ferguson’s statements as “confusing” and questioned whether the interim boss was being unprofessional in his assessment of the title race.
Chris Sutton, never one to shy away from a verbal jab, didn’t hold back in his analysis of Ferguson’s interview. Speaking on Sky Sports, Sutton expressed bewilderment at Ferguson’s claim that Rangers were showing signs of closing the gap on Celtic. “I was really, sort of, confused by some of the things Barry said there,” Sutton remarked. “He was certain a few weeks ago they would have lost that game [against Dundee], I don’t know how he can be certain of that. He sort of came across as he’d cracked it when he spoke about old bad habits creeping back in again.”
Sutton’s critique didn’t stop there. He argued that Ferguson’s comments were premature, given Rangers’ inconsistent performances and defensive frailties, which were exposed in the Dundee match despite the victory. “When they come up against Bilbao in the Europa League, they will be crucified if they give up opportunities like they have done in the last six games,” Sutton warned. “I still have massive doubts about Rangers. Defensively, and mentality-wise as well.”
The Celtic legend’s pointed remarks raised the question: was Ferguson’s interview unprofessional, or is Sutton simply capitalizing on an opportunity to needle his old rivals? Ferguson’s candid admission of “old habits creeping in” while simultaneously praising his team’s character could be seen as a honest reflection from a manager under pressure. However, Sutton interpreted it as a lack of realism, particularly in the context of Celtic’s near-certain title triumph.
Barry Ferguson, no stranger to the intense scrutiny that comes with managing Rangers, has largely dismissed Sutton’s criticism. Following a 1-1 draw against Aberdeen, where Sutton accused Ferguson of “waving a white flag” by making nine changes to his starting lineup, Ferguson was unfazed. “Look, I have no issue. Everybody has an opinion, and I don’t really take any interest,” he said, defending his team selection and emphasizing the need to manage player fatigue ahead of a crucial Europa League clash with Athletic Bilbao.
Ferguson’s approach has been to focus on results rather than engage in a war of words with Sutton. His tenure as interim boss has been a mixed bag, with standout victories against Fenerbahçe in the Europa League and Celtic in the Glasgow Derby, but also costly defeats, such as a 2-0 loss to Hibernian at Ibrox. Despite the challenges, Ferguson has insisted on maintaining a positive outlook, even as Celtic edge closer to clinching the title.
The Sutton-Ferguson spat is just the latest chapter in a long-standing rivalry between two figures who embody the tribalism of Scottish football. Sutton, a Celtic icon who won four league titles during his time at Parkhead, has built a reputation as a provocative pundit who rarely misses an opportunity to wind up Rangers fans and players alike. His social media jabs, such as the sarcastic “How did Bazball go today?” after Rangers’ loss to Hibernian, have become a staple of his commentary style.
Ferguson, a Rangers legend who captained the club to five league titles, is equally entrenched in the rivalry. His interim stint has been marked by moments of tactical brilliance, but also by the immense pressure of managing a club that demands success in the shadow of Celtic’s recent dominance. Over the past decade, Celtic have claimed 12 of the last 13 league titles, with Rangers managing just three trophies out of 42 available domestic honors—a statistic Sutton has been quick to highlight.
The question of whether Ferguson’s interview was “unprofessional” may depend on perspective. For Rangers supporters, his comments reflect a manager trying to instill belief in a team that has shown flashes of potential. For Celtic fans, Sutton’s criticism resonates as a reminder of their club’s superiority and Rangers’ ongoing struggles to match it.
As Celtic prepare to face St Johnstone, a victory could set the stage for a title-clinching celebration against Kilmarnock at Celtic Park. Meanwhile, Rangers face a daunting Europa League tie against Athletic Bilbao, a match that could define Ferguson’s interim tenure. Sutton’s warning about Rangers’ defensive vulnerabilities may yet prove prophetic, but Ferguson’s ability to pull off upsets—such as the win over Celtic—suggests he’s not ready to concede defeat just yet.
The debate over Ferguson’s interview and Sutton’s response underscores the intensity of the Celtic-Rangers rivalry, where every word is scrutinized, and every comment can become a flashpoint. Whether Ferguson’s remarks were unprofessional or simply optimistic, one thing is clear: in Scottish football, no one escapes the spotlight, and Chris Sutton will always be ready to ask, “Is he allowed to say that?”
