Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton might be a great source of frustration for Rangers fans, but the pundit has appealed to both sides of the Old Firm amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
With league seasons suspended across Europe Sutton was roundly criticised by Rangers fans for claiming Celtic should be awarded the title in Scotland [Daily Record] but saying there were doubts over Liverpool’s claims down south [Daily Mail].
However, as the seriousness of the global outbreak begins to grip homes across the country Sutton has pleaded with both sides of the Old Firm squabbling over the title to gain some perspective.
“It shouldn’t take tragedy to stop the bias and bickering,” writes Sutton [Daily Record].
“When legends such as Billy McNeill and Sandy Jardine pass away, divides evaporate. People come together and stand strong as one.
“I’ve got to be honest, this is one of those times.
“It’s not often myself and my old sparring partner Barry Ferguson agree 100 per cent on anything but I read his column in Record Sport yesterday about his attitude towards things changing over the past week and I felt myself thinking the same way.
“The importance of football and sport in all of our lives is simply overpowering.
“Opinions, debate, supporting our team. It’s part of the fabric woven into most of our psyches. It gives us our joy and pain in equal measure and it isn’t just football which is having to sit and suffer.
“I’m the first to argue and debate about football and get passionate over it.
“Right now, though, it’s not the time to be arguing over what league you are in and whether or not someone is going to be relegated or awarded a title
“The only thing worth getting passionate and worked up about right now is the wellbeing of you and your loved ones.”
Credit to Sutton taking the debate back down to Earth amid constant discussions over what should happen next in Scottish football.
The nation’s clubs will be buoyed by the news that employees can claim up to 80% of their wages to the value £2.5k from the British government [BBC] in these testing times.
But whilst debates over league titles and relegations might spark something inside of supporters, there’s little doubt all of this pales in significance to what’s about to come to the UK.
In words most recently uttered by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, football is the most important of the least important things.
