The American defender will serve a three-match ban following the flashpoint against Hibs
19:35, 24 Feb 2026Updated 19:44, 24 Feb 2026
Auston Trusty after being sent off(Image: Mark Runnacles/Shutterstock)
Celtic have claimed that referee Matthew MacDermid stated in VAR audio that Auston Trusty’s red card clash against Hibs was “nothing”.
That is before the whistler was sent to the pitchside monitor and Trusty was sent off for violent conduct in the second half of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat. The defender forcefully batted away Jamie McGrath’s arm at a corner.
Grant Irvine in the VAR room would intervene and call the man in the middle to the pitchside monitor – and he would issue the US international a straight red card. Celtic boss O’Neill branded the call “harsh” on the centre back.
He explained MacDermid had initially planned to warn both McGrath and Trusty. The Hoops would announced on Monday that they would appeal the call.
But Hampden chiefs have quickly dismissed the appeal and the centre-back will now miss the next three games. That ban begins with the crucial derby day showdown with Rangers on Sunday.
A Celtic statement read: “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.”
Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport’s newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.