The controversial Motherwell handball decision refuses to go away – and now Auston Trusty has given his side of the story.
The late VAR-awarded penalty at Fir Park proved one of the defining moments of the Premiership title race after Celtic were awarded a stoppage-time spot-kick which Kelechi Iheanacho converted to keep Martin O’Neill’s side alive.
Without that goal, Hearts would have travelled to Celtic Park on the final day knowing even a two-goal defeat could still have secured them the title.
Instead, Celtic entered the decider simply needing to win.
The decision itself sparked huge controversy.
Referee John Beaton was sent to the monitor after Trusty and Motherwell defender Sam Nicholson challenged for the ball inside the box. After review, Beaton ruled Nicholson had handled the ball.
The backlash from Motherwell and Hearts circles has continued ever since, despite the Scottish FA standing by the decision in their VAR Review programme.
Now Trusty has revealed he actually believed Celtic should have been awarded a penalty before the handball even became part of the discussion.
Speaking on Pitch to Par with Charlie Mulgrew, the Celtic defender claimed he felt Nicholson elbowed him during the aerial duel.
Trusty said:
“I thought it was a penalty for an elbow!
“It helped that I was on the ground because that gave him more time to realise it was a handball.”
The American also hit back at suggestions online that he somehow forced Nicholson’s arm towards the ball.
“I saw people saying that I lifted his hand up… how the hell would I lift his hand up?!”
Trusty then revealed the exchange he had with the referee immediately afterwards.
“When I went down, I asked him.
“I said it’s definitely a penalty.
“He said he was checking for a handball.
“I was like ‘he didn’t elbow me?!’”
The incident remains one of the most debated moments of the season, despite the right decision being awarded.
The only thing that ultimately mattered for Celtic was the outcome.
Days later, Martin O’Neill’s side completed the comeback by beating Hearts at Celtic Park to secure one of the most dramatic league titles in recent memory.
Eh, Trusty ran through his back barging the arm upwards by forcing himself through him. It’s clear as day. Now he’s claiming an elbow? Ffs. The VAR refs were heard in desperation mode begging the ref to change his decision from a throwing telling the ref “the ball definitely hits his arm”. The VAR ref then celebrated by rubbing his hands together with absolute joy at the penalty decision. It’s on camera.