Record Sport’s resident ref Des Roache ran the rule over the controversial calls from Sunday’s big games in the Premiership
19:05, 23 Feb 2026Updated 19:43, 23 Feb 2026
Auston Trusty after being sent off(Image: Mark Runnacles/Shutterstock)
VAR was “entirely wrong” to intervene and recommend a red card for Auston Trusty, then SHOULD have piped up to award Celtic a penalty.
That’s the verdict of Record Sport’s resident ref Des Roache, who has been reviewing the big calls from a dramatic weekend in the Scottish Premiership on the latest episode of Hotline LIVE.
Hibs dealt a hammer blow to the Hoops’ title hopes by winning at Parkhead for the first time in 16 years.
The hosts were reduced to ten men when VAR asked Matthew McDermid to take another look at Trusty swinging an arm at Jamie McGrath, and the American was given his marching orders.
Celtic have confirmed their appeal of the decision in the hope that Trusty will be cleared to play in next week’s monumental Old Firm derby against Rangers at Ibrox.
Asked if he thought Trusty would win his appeal, Roache replied: “I don’t know. For me, it’s never a red card.
“Matthew McDermid is what, eight yards away? How many times have we seen this incident play out for the last four years?
“This is one they decide to get involved in. There’s grappling, there’s pulling, there’s pushing.
“All you need there is Matthew McDermid to be a bit proactive and just blow the whistle, pull the two of them in and say ‘What are you up to? Get your hands off each other, don’t be stupid and behave yourself.’
“At the worst, give Trusty a yellow card. He can only be sent off for serious foul play or violent conduct. I don’t think that falls within the parameters of either of them.
“Aggressive and violent are two different things. entirely. If he went for a caution for an aggressive action, okay. It’s not the worst but I can buy it.
“I’m not having violence for it. I’m not having serious foul play for him to be sent off.
“But VAR can’t get involved with a yellow card. VAR was Grant Irvine and he’s obviously deemed it to be violent, which is therefore Grant Irvine refereeing that game.”
“Which is entirely wrong. That’s why the guy’s on the pitch in the first place. He’s the manager, he’s the boss, that’s Martin O’Neill on the pitch and he’s got Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham as his two assistants.
“What I would have liked to have seen is Matthew McDermid to have come across and say ‘Nah, I’m not having that.'”
Jack Iredale clings on to Liam Scales
Celtic then feel they should have had a penalty from the resulting corner when Liam Scales was hauled to the ground by Jack Iredale.
“That was worse,” said Roache. “It’s a clear, clear penalty kick. Iredale has got a hold of his arm, he’s got a hold of his jersey.
“Matthew McDermid is there again. He doesn’t need to be looking at the ball, that’s only coming in one way and what the assistant is for.
“He’s probably switched off and the referee should be looking at what’s going on in the penalty area.
“To me, that is a clear and obvious error and VAR should have been involved in that.
“I’ve heard it said it’s because Scales wasn’t going to get the ball. I’m sorry, that’s not the laws of the game. A player is being pulled and grappled inside the penalty area.
“We’re getting guys sent off for running away form the halfway line and trips left right and centre. That’s as clear a penalty kick as you’re going to get. It doesn’t matter if he’s going to get it or not, you act upon the incident you see.
“It’s a completely wrong call.”
Rangers star Mikey Moore is tackled by Cammy Kerr of Livingston
There was controversy in Livingston as well, when Mikey Moore was wiped out in the act of shooting by Livingston’s Cammy Kerr.
Rangers had fought back from 2-0 down after Cristian Montano was sent off for the hosts, and felt Moore had a chance to win the game when he was clattered.
Ref Ryan Lee awarded nothing in a move that has left Roache utterly baffled.
He said: “They’ve got to give the free-kick because the initial contact occurs outside the box. There is a case for the right leg coming round but for me, the absolute minimum is a red card and a free-kick.
“Mikey Moore is pulling the trigger. It doesn’t matter if defenders are going to be covering him. The next action within the next second is Mikey Moore shooting at goal and he’s been cynically brought down by Cammy Kerr.
“There’s no contact on the ball; it’s full contact on the player and how they can start the game with nothing is unfathomable.”