Celtic call for VAR review after Trusty appeal fails

Celtic say the use of video assistant referees in Scotland “needs urgently reviewed” after their unsuccessful appeal against the red card shown to Auston Trusty in their Scottish Premiership defeat by Hibernian.

Trusty, 27, was dismissed with the score 1-1 at Celtic Park following an incident with Hibs’ Jamie McGrath as the pair jostled at a corner. The defending champions lost 2-1.

Violent conduct carries an automatic two-match suspension but Trusty incurred an additional one-match ban, having previously been sent off in the competition this season.

However, Trusty will be available for the Scottish Cup quarter-final away to Rangers on 8 March.

“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.

Meanwhile, St Mirren were successful in challenging Richard King’s sending off in Saturday’s loss to Motherwell and his ban was overturned.

St Mirren defender King, 24, was sent off in his side’s 5-0 defeat in Paisley on Saturday.

With his team trailing 3-0, the centre-back was involved in an incident with Callum Slattery and the Motherwell player fell to the ground.

Referee Calum Scott did not see the incident, issuing the red card on the advice of his assistant, and VAR did not intervene to ask him to review footage.