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Dermot Gallagher has delivered his verdict on the two big VAR calls in Celtic’s defeat to Hibs, and to many Hoops fans, they will not make sense.
We told how Mark Clattenburg branded Celtic defender Auston Trusty as ‘unfortunate’ to have been red carded after his altercation with a Hibs defender at a Hoops corner.
The former FIFA referee also said Celtic star Liam Scales was ‘unlucky’ not to have won a penalty after his shirt was pulled moments after Trusty saw red.
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And here, Gallagher appears to be on the opposite end of the spectrum on both VAR calls and it will baffle the Celtic support.
Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty ImagesDermot Gallagher says Celtic defender Trusty used ‘too much aggression’
Sky Sports took the opportunity to look at the big Celtic Park rows and Gallagher was not having Trusty being harshly dealt with.
Gallagher told Sky Sports Ref Watch, “I think the problem there is that once the referee is alerted to it, what happens is, the player grabs hold of Trusty’s arm, doesn’t he, and Trusty bangs him to get him off.
“That’s what he’s trying to do. But unfortunately, when you see the VAR intervene, he goes to the screen, it just looks as though he’s done it with too much aggression.
“It’s one of them things that if the referee deals with on the field, we all go, yeah, fair enough. Once you are sent to the VAR, you can’t unsee something.”
As for Scales, the Celtic defender has been told by Gallagher that there wasn’t enough contact for him to win a penalty.
Gallagher continued, “Not enough [contact]. I understand he’s frustrated.
“You know, he thinks he’s having his shirt pulled. He gets it pulled, because that’s what players do, they reach for each other. But is there enough? I think not.”
🗣️ “He has done it with too much aggression.”
The Ref Watch team believe Celtic’s Auston Trusty was correctly sent off against Hibs, while they dismissed Liam Scales’ penalty appeal ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/MeB3SVultr
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) February 23, 2026
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Celtic face a tough task for the Glasgow Derby with Trusty now out, and with six points from top, further dropped points at Ibrox will ensure this title defence could be a difficult one to make happen.
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