Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has unleashed a furious tirade against the Video Assistant Referee system, branding the process surrounding Auston Trusty's controversial red card as "nonsense". The outburst comes after the defender's appeal was dismissed, forcing him to miss three critical domestic fixtures.
Controversial Dismissal Sparks Outrage
During Sunday's 2-1 Premiership home defeat to Hibernian, USA international Auston Trusty was sent off by referee Matthew MacDermid in the second half. The decision followed intervention from video assistant Grant Irvine, who flagged an incident at a corner involving Hibs midfielder Jamie McGrath. Trusty was adjudged to have struck McGrath's arm with his fist, resulting in a red card after an on-field review.
Celtic's Appeal Falls on Deaf Ears
Celtic's formal appeal against the dismissal was rejected on Tuesday, meaning Trusty will be absent for crucial league matches against Rangers, Aberdeen, and Motherwell. In response, the Parkhead club has demanded an urgent review of how VAR is implemented in Scottish football.
Ahead of Celtic's Europa League play-off second leg against Stuttgart in Germany, the 73-year-old O'Neill delivered an animated critique of the VAR process. "I did the interview after the game and someone asked me if we were going to appeal it," O'Neill recounted. "I thought: 'Well, I'm really not sure about the appeal because, in this day and age, it's seemingly worthless'. But then, when I get the information coming back from the club about what has been said in VAR, then I thought: 'Yeah, absolutely'."
O'Neill Questions Referee Autonomy
O'Neill elaborated on his frustration, highlighting that referee MacDermid had initially seen the incident and deemed it insignificant. "Because the referee, as he told me on Sunday, has seen the incident. It's not as if he hasn't seen it. He's watching it," O'Neill explained. "And when he's asked by a very excited man on VAR, saying, delay, delay, delay, delay, and they ask him (MacDermid), he said: 'No, it's nothing'. He said: 'I'm just going to have a word with the players'. And then he has to trot over then to change his mind."
The veteran manager expressed concern that VAR is undermining referees' authority. "All I'm saying is that VAR will, in time, (mean) we won't need a referee. VAR will do it (referee), from wherever they're doing it from, because that's what they do," he warned.
Impact on Celtic's Season
Clearly aggrieved by Trusty's suspension during a vital period, O'Neill added: "They've asked the referee to overturn something that he's actually seen. He's seen it. It's not as if he missed the incident. Of course, (had he missed it) that would be a different issue. So, I've got a player who'll miss three games. It's such a nonsense."
O'Neill clarified his stance on VAR, stating: "I'm all for if people have missed something dramatic in a game that constitutes something they should have a look at. But when a referee sees the incident himself, then what he's being asked to do is - no, you didn't see that, you saw something else ... that's got to be debilitating for a referee. It's got to be."
Looking Ahead to European Clash
As Celtic prepare for their return match against Stuttgart, O'Neill is expected to field a significantly altered lineup. Reflecting on the first leg's 4-1 defeat at Parkhead, he sought positives: "Well, the scoreline to me was never a 4-1. I felt, even at half time, we're still well in the game. And the next goal is going to be very, very decisive. We missed some chances as well, some half-decent chances."
Acknowledging Stuttgart's quality as a top-four Bundesliga side, O'Neill emphasized the importance of competitiveness. "But, for us, I want to go there, we want to compete, which is the most important thing. And you don't want to throw things away. So let us go, let us compete, and let's have a look at it," he concluded.
