As we reported yesterday, referees’ chief Willie Collum has backed the decision not to send off Celtic defender Auston Trusty in last weekend’s League Cup semi-final.
But that wasn’t the only talking point from the game.
RecordSport reports that the referee chief will also stand by the officials’ calls on the two other key incidents: Thelo Aasgaard’s red card and the late penalty awarded to Rangers, when Ralston was penalised for handling the ball in the area.
Refereeing incidents sparked fierce debate in the aftermath of Celtic’s 3-1 extra-time win, and the fallout has continued nearly two weeks later, which, especially in the case of the Trusty decision, feels increasingly drawn out.
Collum is expected to reaffirm that the officials’ interpretations were consistent with the laws of the game, deeming Trusty’s contact on Jack Butland as reckless but not violent, Aasgaard’s challenge as endangering an opponent, and Ralston’s handball as a legitimate penalty under current guidance.
The discussion will feature prominently on this week’s VAR Review Show, airing on Sky Sports Football at 6 pm on Friday, with a replay at 9:30 pm following the Women’s Glasgow Derby. The episode will run for one hour, with in-depth analysis and explanations from the SFA’s refereeing department.
Celtic, of course, have long moved on from the drama, now preparing for the crucial run of fixtures that could take them to the top of the table before Christmas, but it seems the other side of the city are refusing to accept answers.
