The meltdown from Rangers Football Club and their fans since being dumped out of the League Cup by Celtic on Sunday has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Despite benefitting from a string of generous refereeing calls at Hampden, including a dubious penalty that dragged them back into the tie and forced extra time, the Ibrox side has spent the days since raging over a supposed “kick to the head” from Auston Trusty.
The incident, which happened near the end of the first half, has been replayed endlessly across Rangers-friendly media. In reality, the American defender’s boot barely brushed Jack Butland’s face, and later photos showed no mark or sign of impact. It was a minor flashpoint in a fiery first half, yet it’s somehow been inflated into a full-blown conspiracy theory.
The irony is that Rangers escaped several big decisions themselves. Derek Cornelius was fortunate to stay on the pitch after a shocking first-half lunge on Johnny Kenny. None of that, however, has slowed the tantrum from Govan.
After demanding meetings with the SFA over officiating standards, Rangers released a statement claiming they were “unsatisfied” with the talks. The whole episode has taken on a Trump-style tone of grievance, denial, and baseless outrage. Should we really expect less from their American owners?
Auston Trusty Man of the Match
Meanwhile, the SPFL quietly moved on. When the league’s official Team of the Week dropped on Tuesday, there was Auston Trusty’s name, rewarded for a calm, commanding performance that anchored Celtic’s 3–1 victory.
🌟 Adama Sidibeh
The @StJohnstone striker is our #TOTW Star Man!
Read more: 🔗 https://t.co/QtjugG6tNV pic.twitter.com/MbNi37dWil
— SPFL (@spfl) November 4, 2025
Celtic fans relished every second of it, celebrating both Trusty’s inclusion and the meltdown that followed. For a fanbase that’s spent years accusing everyone else of buying into conspiracies, Rangers’ reaction has once again shown their struggle to handle defeat with even a touch of grace.
The result stands, Celtic march into the final, and Auston Trusty, not Jack Butland, walks away with the praise.
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