Ally McCoist did not hold back when analysing Auston Trusty’s red card against Hibernian. The former Rangers striker called it embarrassing, and from a football point of view it is hard to argue with him.
The game at Celtic Park was poised at 1-1 when it unfolded. Trusty was wrestling with his marker Jamie McGrath in the box. Both players had hold of each other, the usual stuff from a corner. He moved his arm to get loose.
McGrath hit the deck. After a VAR check, the referee showed a straight red for violent conduct.
From there, the game changed. Celtic had started to turn the screw. Down to ten, they had to adjust. One midfielder sat in front of the defence, full-backs held their runs, and Hibs found room down the sides.
The focus switched from pressing for a winner to staying in the game.
If that counts as violent conduct, centre-halves will be walking a tightrope every week. There was no punch, no clear lash out. It seemed like a defender trying to shake off a grip. McGrath’s reaction carried weight with the officials.
McCoist said: (talkSPORT), “Embarrassing. Absolutely embarrassing. First thing you’d say is the Hibs player doesn’t cover himself with glory.
“Yeah, right. He doesn’t cover himself with glory going down. Right.
“But come on, guys. It’s a terrible, terrible decision.
“And don’t… nobody come on and tell me violent conduct, right? Please, nobody come on and say, look, it’s violent conduct. Because it’s not. The guy’s holding him and he puts his hand down.
“See the people that are doing our VAR? They’re just inept. They’re just not good. We need to get rid of it. We have to get rid of VAR because they’re embarrassing themselves. I mean, that’s why we’ve brought VAR in to help them.
“It’s actually shown them up. Because they’re actually looking at it. Say if a referee makes a mistake, guys, and you go, well, that’s fine, he made a mistake, he got it wrong.
“But if somebody’s sitting watching it seven, eight, nine times and still getting it wrong, what chance have we got?”
The red card was not the only call that left people shaking their heads. Later in the game, Liam Scales was dragged down at a corner. You could see the shirt being tugged as he tried to attack the ball. It knocked him onto the ground. Play went on. VAR stayed quiet.
In a game that tight, those moments count. Celtic were already dealing with being a man down. A penalty there changes everything. Instead, they were back defending again, trying to stay in the game.
This is the stage of the season where every point shifts the table. There is little room for error. When you are chasing a title, you need decisions to at least even themselves out over 90 minutes.
Trusty could now miss the next three domestic matches, which would mean another reshuffle at the back. That run includes Rangers away in the Premiership, Rangers away in the Scottish Cup, and Aberdeen away in the league.
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