Celtic lose Trusty appeal but King red overturned

Celtic have been unsuccessful in their appeal against the red card shown to Auston Trusty in their Scottish Premiership defeat by Hibernian, with the defender now to serve a three-match ban.

However, St Mirren were successful in challenging Richard King’s sending off in Saturday’s loss to Motherwell and the centre-back has had his suspension overturned.

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 Scottish FA said in relation to the Trusty decision: “Payment of £650 Appeal Deposit to be made within 30 days.”

Speaking after full-time on Sunday, Celtic boss Martin O’Neill said “I’ve just had a word with the referee. He said he was going to just have a word with the two players then VAR intervened and said it was violent conduct.

St Mirren defender King, 24, was sent off in his side’s 5-0 defeat by Motherwell 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.