Martin O’Neill claims VAR ‘debilitating’ for officials after Celtic fail with red card appeal
Auston Trusty sent off against Hibernian
O’Neill: ‘In time we won’t need a referee’
Celtic’s manager Martin O’Neill has delivered a withering assessment of VAR in Scottish football after what he called the “ridiculous” dismissal of Auston Trusty during Sunday’s loss by Hibernian. Trusty’s red card and a failed Celtic appeal mean the centre-back will miss three crucial Scottish Premiership games, starting with Sunday’s Old Firm visit to Ibrox. O’Neill claimed VAR actions must be “debilitating” for on-field officials.
Trusty reacted angrily to the attentions of Hibs’ Jamie McGrath at a Celtic corner. The referee Matthew MacDermid appeared content the incident was worthy of no sanction but was sent to review the incident by the VAR Grant Irvine. To O’Neill, the game was re-refereed.
