The Ibrox side believe the verdict from the KMI panel validates them and want a meeting with the SFA to discuss it
17:37, 10 Nov 2025Updated 20:15, 10 Nov 2025
Auston Trusty makes contact with Jack Butland’s head(Image: SNS Group)
Rangers are pushing for a sit down with SFA bosses in the wake of the KMI verdict that Auston Trusty should have been shown a red card for a foul on Jack Butland during their Premier Sports semi final defeat to Celtic.
The USA international was shown a yellow card for catching the Ibrox stopper late in the first half, minutes after Gers had been reduced to 10 men when Thelo Aasgaard saw red for a dangerous challenge on Anthony Ralston.
Danny Rohl’s side fought valiantly with a man less but ultimately fell 3-1 to their city rivals after extra time.
And while the SFA’s three-man panel agreed with all of the other decisions made by on-field referee Nick Walsh and his officiating team during the Old Firm clash, a majority of 2:1 concluded that a the whistler should have been recommended to go to the VAR monitor and send defender Trusty off.
Following the defeat, Rangers quickly issued a statement voicing their anger to the SFA and Sky Sports now report that an official request for a meeting with the governing bodies’ bosses has now been submitted.
Keeper Butland has admitted he found the decision not to give Trusty his marching orders ‘difficult to accept’ while the Celtic star has been adamant the incident has been blown into proportion.
Butland said: “Was there a massive amount of malice involved?” Butland asked. “Not necessarily. You’d like to think that you’re protected, in a sense, from things like that.
“Seeing it afterwards, it was perhaps later than I thought in real time as well. So, a difficult one to accept.
Rangers’ James Tavernier appeals to referee Nick Walsh after a challenge on goalkeeper Jack Butland
“Difficult to accept that that’s perhaps a precedent that is going to continue if that’s a similar situation against any team, regardless of who it is.
“Obviously, with the addition of all the assistance that the referees perhaps get nowadays, we can only hope moving forward that the right decisions get made and it stays as fair as it possibly can.”
Trusty has recalled a slightly different version of events, stating: “I tapped him and obviously it wasn’t… I didn’t boot him in the head.
“You could see my demeanour and my reaction to tapping him in the head. No, I didn’t think it was anything.
“I was just obviously apologetic. No one means to boot somebody in the head or kick somebody in the head. I obviously tapped him in the head and that’s all it was.
“I didn’t really think anything much of it. I obviously was apologetic and you’d see my hands to him and say sorry, no matter rivalry or whatever it is, that’s not the kind of human I am.
“I think it’s just Rangers vs Celtic. I think no matter whatever side has a positive result, the other side’s going to say whatever.
“It’s just how football works, you know, in this country and from this rivalry. I don’t think you can really escape that.”