TAVERNIER SKELPS “SOUNDBITE SUTTON” IN SCORCHIN’ INSTA LIVE RANT AFTER CRITICISM
Chris Sutton’s criticism of James Tavernier and Rangers has been a familiar soundtrack on national television. Whether it was after a poor result, a defensive mistake, or even a convincing Rangers win, Sutton always seemed to find a way to aim a dig at the Ibrox captain. But according to Tavernier, last night was the final straw and the Rangers skipper finally let loose in a fiery Instagram Live rant that has already become one of the most talked about online moments of the season.
The drama kicked off shortly after Rangers’ wrapped up 3:0 win against dundee. Sutton, appearing on a national TV panel show, delivered another sharp critique of Tavernier’s leadership, questioning his mentality and even suggesting Rangers would be better with a different kind of captain. It was the latest in a long line of pointed comments, but this time Tavernier wasn’t willing to stay quiet.
Five Days later, Tavernier went live on Instagram clearly fed up and fired with emotion. The audience ballooned almost instantly, with tens of thousands of fans tuning in as word spread across social media. And he wasted no time calling out his long time critic.
“Right, I’ve had enough of this,” Tavernier began, shaking his head. “Chris Sutton or should I say Soundbite Sutton is at it again. Guy watches a couple of highlights and thinks he knows exactly what’s happened out there. He’s more interested in hearing his own voice than actually talking about the game.”
The nickname “Soundbite Sutton” exploded instantly across Twitter and fan forums, quickly becoming a meme, a chant suggestion, and the unofficial phrase of the night. Tavernier didn’t hold back, leaning into years of built up frustration in a rant that felt less like a scripted media response and more like a genuine outpouring from a man who’s reached his limit.
“He’s been at me for years,” Tavernier continued. “Win, lose, draw, doesn’t matter. He finds a way to slate us. But tonight? Tonight was the final straw. You can criticise the performance, no problem. But questioning the mentality of the boys? Questioning the character? Nah, that’s not punditry. That’s just noise.”
The comments sent the live chat into chaos, with supporters flooding the stream with laughing emojis, blue hearts, and messages telling Tavernier he was spot on and finally saying what everyone’s been thinking. Even neutrals popped in to watch the drama unfold, with many admitting they’d never seen Tavernier speak with such raw passion.
As expected, Sutton didn’t take kindly to the outburst. Within the hour, he was reportedly furious according to colleagues, and sources close to the broadcaster suggested he was preparing a response for his podcast the next morning. One insider claimed Sutton felt Tavernier had crossed a line by mocking him publicly, though others argued the pundit had been crossing that same line for years with his relentless criticism.
Rangers fans, meanwhile, have overwhelmingly backed their captain. Many supporters have long believed Sutton’s commentary goes beyond normal punditry, often feeling deliberately provocative or targeted. Tavernier’s willingness to finally push back has been hailed by sections of the fanbase as a sign of leadership and resilience in the face of constant scrutiny.
But Tavernier didn’t just defend himself; he defended the entire squad.
“These lads graft every week,” he said during the Live. “Folk like Sutton act like we don’t care, like we’re just turning up. It’s disrespectful. The boys put their bodies on the line for this badge. I’ll always back them, and I’ll always speak up when someone tries to drag the team down for the sake of a headline.”
The rant lasted just under 9 minutes, but the impact has been enormous. Clips of Tavernier’s comments have been shared thousands of times, and the phrase Soundbite Sutton has taken on a life of its own. Some fans have even joked about printing it on scarves and T shirts.
Whether Sutton retaliates, or whether this sparks yet another round of media back and forth, remains to be seen. But what’s certain is this: for the first time in a long while, James Tavernier didn’t just defend Rangers on the pitch, he defended them in the court of public opinion, and he did it with a fire that caught the attention of the entire footballing world.
If Sutton’s criticism was the match, Tavernier’s Insta Live was the spark that finally lit the fuse.
this story is far from over.
