It’s understood Rangers will use the KMI verdict to demand more talks with the game’s top brass but the Celtic decision has been exonerated
17:55, 12 Nov 2025Updated 20:02, 12 Nov 2025
SFA Head of Refereeing Operations Willie Collum
Referee chief Willie Collum has given his personal approval to the decision not to send Celtic’s Auston Trusty off in the Old Firm’s Premier Sports Cup semi final.
Record Sport understands Collum believes ref Nick Walsh and his VAR team made the correct call when they punished the American defender with a yellow card despite seeing him aim a kick at the head of Rangers keeper Jack Butland.
The incident infuriated the Ibrox club who wrote to the SFA to demand an official explanation for the handling of the flashpoint, which came shortly before half time in a dramatic Hampden clash.
And tempers were boiling over again late last week when the independent Key Match Incident panel agreed Trusty should have been sent packing by the match officials.
Walsh was not advised to review his original decision on the pitch side screen by his team at Clydesdale House and it’s understood Rangers will use the KMI verdict to demand more talks with the game’s top brass.
Auston Trusty makes contact with Jack Butland’s head(Image: SNS Group)
It’s been reported that the club’s hierarchy have carried out a reviewing of various ‘officiating trends across multiple campaigns’ and have concluded the Trusty incident should be viewed as part of a broader pattern of dodgy decisions rather than an isolated mistake.
Collum though is set to stick to his guns by giving his top level backing to Walsh and VAR operator Andrew Dallas, leaving both men in the clear as far as their own bosses are concerned.
It’s understood Collum agrees with their consensus that Trusty’s boot flick lacked the necessary force and malice required to to merit the award of a straight sending off,
It’s anticipated Collum will also back their judgement on other controversial calls which saw Danny Rohl’s side reduced to ten men when Thelo Aasgard planted a high boot into Anthony Ralston’s thigh as well as the decision to award Rangers with a late penalty after the same Celtic defender blocked a shot with his elbow.