Chris Sutton has not held back in his critique of Ally McCoist’s recent comments regarding the new hate crime legislation in Scotland, labelling them as “reckless and irresponsible.”
McCoist caused a stir on talkSPORT by suggesting that he and 48,000 Rangers fans might violate hate crime laws during the upcoming Glasgow Derby against Celtic. A former Celtic player, Sutton, remarked that while McCoist’s comments might have been meant humorously, they were still unwise and potentially harmful.
Sutton mentioned, “He put himself in a vulnerable position by suggesting that he and 48,000 others would be breaking the law during that match.” Sutton also noted that although he knows McCoist well and suspects the comments were tongue-in-cheek, if they were serious, they were reckless and poorly chosen.
McCoist later announced he wouldn’t attend the game, possibly as a way to address the issue, although Sutton felt the original comments were still peculiar. The aftermath of this incident now focuses on the impact of McCoist’s words and the broader discussion surrounding hate crimes in football. It’s a reminder of the influence and responsibility that influential figures have with their language.