CELTIC will be looking for further discussions with the SFA after the club’s appeal against Auston Trusty’s red card in the 2-2 draw with Hearts on Sunday was dismissed.
The Hoops hierarchy say they are “very disappointed” with the decision of an independent panel and the centre-back will now miss the Premiership encounter with Falkirk at Parkhead on Sunday.
The club have vowed to ensure fresh talks with Scottish football’s governing body as they insist the correct VAR protocols were NOT followed during the 74th-minute incident.
Referee Steven McLean booked Trusty after a coming-together with the Edinburgh side’s striker Landry Kbore about 30 yards from goal.
YELLOW CARD…Auston Trusty looks shocked to be booked by referee Steven McLean after his coming-together with Hearts striker Landry Kbore.
VAR controller John Beaton intervened to instruct the match official to review the moment on his touchline monitor.
McLean returned to the pitch, rescinded the yellow card and then dismissed the startled defender.
The Hoops lodged an appeal over the decision, but their complaints were thrown out by the SFA who backed the judgements of McLean and Beaton.
The Parkhead bosses insist the matter isn’t finished and wrote on the club website: “Celtic’s appeal over the red card shown to Auston Trusty in the draw against Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday has been dismissed, following a Scottish FA hearing.
“Clearly, we are very disappointed at the outcome of the appeal.
“The VAR Protocol requires that VAR only intervenes when there is a ‘clear and obvious error’.
“It is difficult to see how the original yellow card decision is a clear and obvious error and, accordingly, VAR’s intervention by the refereeing team was not consistent with the rules.
RED CARD…Steven McLean dismisses Auston Trusty after a quickfire review as instructed by VAR.
“We await the written judgement, but will be ensuring further discussions with the SFA on the matter as we seek to understand the rationale for this and other decisions.”
In the aftermath of the controversial decision, Martin O’Neill felt the decision to banish his player was harsh, as CQN reported.
The interim boss stated: “I do have an argument with the red card.
“The referee gave a yellow and was sent over, with VAR obviously re-referring the game.
“It’s no more a red card than a blue card – which don’t exist.”
ALEX’S ANGLE: BEATON + VAR = RED CARDS FOR CELTIC
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