Kris Boyd skewers Rangers penalty paranoia as Celtic hero taunt hurdled with conspiracy theory declared OVER

Irked Kris Boyd has declared Rangers conspiracy theorists have been silenced after Kilmarnock were awarded a penalty in their defeat at Ibrox.

The ‘penalty to Rangers’ taunt has often been thrown at the Ibrox side by their rivals in recent seasons - with many pointing to the surprising statistic that they had gone 74 league games and almost two years without conceding a spot kick. Lewis Ferguson was the last for Aberdeen in January 2022 to take a spot-kick against the Light Blues - before Derek McInnes' side ended that run when they were awarded a second-half penalty at Ibrox.

Ref Nick Walsh was on VAR duty and sent John Beaton to the monitor during the Scottish Premiership showdown after John Souttar was adjudged to have handled the ball - with Danny Armstrong stepping up to put the ball beyond Jack Butland. And Boyd told Sky Sports that one theory from the Light Blues' detractors can now be put to bed in the final game before the winter break.

Boyd said: "Surprising enough, some people will have nothing to talk about. I think Kilmarnock have been awarded a penalty so I'm not sure where they go with that one now."

The response came after Celtic hero Chris Sutton couldn't resist a swipe as he updated punters on the "breaking news". Taking to X, he said: "Breaking News: A penalty has been awarded against Rangers…"

Former Ibrox star Billy Dodds cast some doubt over the decision after VAR stepped in. He told BBC Sportscene: "It has definitely hit him in the hand, I just don't know where he can put his arm. Listen, it is definitely a penalty and it has risen a bit to hit him in the hand. He has tried to get out the way but the penalty has been given."