Celtic call for VAR to be reviewed due to serious issues with its deployment

Aston Villa captain John McGinn has warned that a concerning standard may now have been set following Auston Trusty’s controversial red card, insisting a similar moment in the Ibrox club’s 2-2 draw with Livingston went without punishment…

“That can’t be a red card… it’s a big call and an important call” 🗣️@jmcginn7 weighs in on Auston Trusty’s sending off against Hibernian at the weekend 🟥

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Martin O’Neill and Callum McGregor were not happy at the defender’s dismissal for violent conduct during their 2-1 defeat to Hibernian at the weekend and the club’s frustration deepened when an appeal lodged against the decision was rejected yesterday.

Trusty was sent off after appearing to strike out at Jamie McGrath

Trusty was sent off after appearing to strike out at Jamie McGrath just before a Celtic corner was taken, with referee Matthew MacDermid initially trying to bring in both players before being advised to review the incident at the screen.

Speaking on Premier Sports’ Scottish Football Social Show, McGinn suggested the type of physical contact involved is commonplace at set-pieces and expressed concern that enforcing such interpretations consistently could lead to a rise in red cards across the game.

The Scotland international also pointed to a separate incident in theRangers’ draw at Livingston, claiming striker Youssef Chermiti appeared to commit a comparable act in the build-up to his side’s equaliser but faced no disciplinary action.

McGinn said: “I think the red card does change the game. If that’s going to be a red card then you’re going to have the microscope out at every single corner.”

“It’s stupid [from Trusty], but if I’m marking someone and holding them at a corner, I’m expecting to get my arm punched. It happens all the time.

“When Chermiti was getting the ball back at 2-2 [against Livingston] he did something similar, maybe not as aggressive or with the same force.

“But that can’t be a red card. It changes the flow of the game. I’m not sure Celtic would have had enough to go and win 2-1, but it’s a big, important call.”

Celtic’s Appeal thrown out by Scottish FA 

Celtic’s appeal was last night thrown out by the Scottish FA and subsequent to that verdict which sees Trusty pick up a three match ban, Celtic FC released a short statement via the club’s official website.

With regards to the outcome of today’s hearing regarding Auston Trusty, the club provides the following update:

“We are hugely disappointed at today’s decision, which will now result in Auston Trusty being suspended for three matches after an “arm to arm” contact as he looked to release himself from being held prior to the ball coming into play – the kind of incident which features in games across the country week in week out.

“The match audio demonstrates that the referee saw the incident clearly. Immediately following the incident, the referee said: “It’s nothing I’m just going to speak to them” in terms of no further action being required.

“In discussions with Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill after the match this was something he also confirmed.

“However, VAR again decided to intervene to ‘re-referee’ an initial decision which had been made.

“While we await the written judgement, this and other decisions in the match and in other recent games demonstrate a serious issue with VAR and its current deployment which needs urgently reviewed.”