Celtic will learn the outcome of Auston Trusty’s red card appeal later today, with the Scottish Football Association confirming the case has been fast-tracked to Tuesday.
Based on previous timelines, a decision is expected later in the evening, but the stakes could hardly be higher for Celtic.
If the appeal is rejected, Trusty faces a nightmare run of suspensions at a critical stage of the season. The defender would miss trips to Rangers and Aberdeen, before also sitting out a home clash against Motherwell.
The dismissal against Hibernian was for violent conduct after an off-the-ball incident at a corner, and that category carries a mandatory two-match suspension. Because Trusty has already been sent off once in the competition this season, that would be automatically increased to a three-game ban. [BBC]
That earlier red card came at Tynecastle, where he was dismissed for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Celtic appealed that decision too, but were unsuccessful, a detail that only adds to the sense of pessimism around today’s hearing.
In truth, there has never been much optimism that this appeal would succeed. The incident against Hibs appears to meet the violent conduct threshold, and overturning those decisions at fast-track tribunals is rare. It was, in all honesty, something of a surprise that Celtic chose to contest it at all.
If the ban is upheld, Martin O’Neill will be forced to reshuffle his defence for one of the most demanding stretches of the season, including the derby at Ibrox. The outcome tonight could have significant consequences not just for Trusty but for their entire run-in.
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