CELTIC have officially moved to contest the red card shown to defender Auston Trusty during Sunday’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Hearts, as the fallout from the “DOGSO” controversy intensifies.
The Parkhead club submitted a formal appeal to the SFA on Monday afternoon, seeking to overturn the dismissal that interim manager Martin O’Neill claims “played a massive part” in the Hoops dropping two vital points in the title race.
The VAR Intervention Under Scrutiny
The incident occurred in the 75th minute with Celtic leading 2-1. Trusty was judged to have tripped Hearts striker Pierre Landry Kabore. While on-field referee Steven McLean initially issued a yellow card, he was urged to review the footage by VAR official John Beaton.
McLean subsequently upgraded the booking to a red for the Denial of an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO)—a decision that left O’Neill fuming on the touchline. The numerical disadvantage proved costly, as Hearts’ Claudio Braga eventually found an 87th-minute equaliser to keep the Jambos six points clear at the top of the table.
O’Neill: ‘The Ball Was Going Away From Goal’
Speaking after the match, O’Neill didn’t hold back on his assessment of the VAR “re-refereeing” the game. The Northern Irishman argued that the fundamental criteria for a red card were not met.
“I’ve seen it back and I have to say I don’t see it. I don’t see it at all,” O’Neill said. “First of all, the ball is going away from goal. And secondly, and more importantly, we’ve actually got a man [Liam Scales] round covering. I don’t know why it took such deliberation. It’s not a red card.”
Former SFA referees have already begun to weigh in, with some experts suggesting that because the foul took place nearly 30 yards from goal and with a covering defender in proximity, the “obvious” nature of the goal-scoring opportunity was debatable.
A Season Defined by Red Tape?
This is the second consecutive match in which Celtic have finished with ten men following a VAR intervention, adding to the exhaustion of a squad that also played an hour a man down in the Europa League against Ludogorets last Thursday.
If the appeal is successful, Trusty will be cleared to play in Celtic’s upcoming domestic fixtures. However, if the SFA Judicial Panel deems the appeal to have “no prospect of success,” the club could risk an additional match being added to the American’s suspension.
The fast-tracked hearing is expected to take place on Tuesday.
Hoops fans—was John Beaton right to get involved, or is Martin O’Neill correct that the “covering man” made it a yellow card at most? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Co-Founder of Fitba Focus and MMA UK. A lifelong Rangers fan and former player, he combines over a decade of sports media experience with a deep-seated passion for the Scottish game. From the Ibrox stands to the lower-league terraces, Frankie is dedicated to providing honest, fan-led analysis of the full Scottish pyramid.
