Celtic TV commentator reveals Rangers 'stonewall' penalty instinct but Silva's antics unite green and blue icons

Honest Peter Grant has revealed his gut instinct was penalty to Rangers when Fabio Silva went tumbling inside the box during Sunday's breathless 3-3 classic at Ibrox.

The Celtic hero – working at the game for the club's in-house TV channel – concedes he was surprised when referee John Beaton booked the Wolves loanee before he was called to VAR to double his check his initial decision. The rulebook has been turned upside down by observers over the challenge from Alistair Johnston, however, Grant's own personal viewpoint is the spot kick was worthy because Silva remained in control of the ball.

The former Celtic star, speaking to Go Radio, said: "I was doing the game for Celtic TV. At first, I thought it was a stonewall penalty, I must admit, 'why he hanging his leg there? Silva's done him'. And then when I saw John Beaton run up and give him the card, I thought, 'oh, he's dived, has he?' But then they show you it the second time and I still hadn't noticed the touch on the ball. Even when I see the touch on the ball, I understand, I think this is where everybody is getting a wee bit OTT, when he gets a touch on the ball, the ball stays in play, then there is the second touch, which hits (Silva) on the knee. Whether he was going down or not, it doesn't matter. Alistair Johnston hung his leg out, it's a penalty kick. If it was Celtic would I be wanting a penalty kick? 100 per cent."

Grant – who described the former £35m man's antics stemming from other flashpoints as "atrocious" – was backed up by Rangers icon Barry Ferguson, who revealed how his fellow players should deal with his histrionics. The Record Sport columnist backed the decision to award Silva the penalty but he didn't like the rest of his behaviour.

Ferguson