Auston Trusty’s sending off is proving to be a major talking point.
When you have someone like Ally McCoist being critical of the call, then you do sense the Celtic centre-back was unfortunate against Hibernian on Sunday in the Premiership.
But former FIFA referee Chris Foy wasn’t in that boat because he thinks Trusty deserved to see red, as he questioned why the American was so aggressive towards Jamie McGrath.
The incident occurred during a Celtic corner, with Trusty whacking down on McGrath’s arm, and Foy arguing with McCoist that the correct call was made.
- READ MORE: Pat Bonner clears up why Celtic fans emptied their seats after Auston Trusty’s red card v Hibernian
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Chris Foy agrees with the call to send Auston Trusty off during Celtic’s defeat against Hibernian
McCoist started the debate on talkSPORT by telling Foy that ‘everybody’ he has spoken to thinks that Trusty shouldn’t have seen red.
But the former Premier League referee batted it away and feels that Trusty ‘went down with some real force’ when he made contact with McGrath’s arm.
What’s interesting is that there wasn’t much protest from the Celtic man as he walked off the pitch and for an early bath.
But it remains to be seen whether the club will appeal his sending off.
What’s also interesting is that McCoist suggested that had McGrath stayed on his feet, and not tumbled to the ground like he had been shot, then Trusty wouldn’t have seen red.
But once again, Foy disagreed with that statement and added that the officials have seen ‘the action of the player striking down on his arm with force’, and not the player falling to ground when making their call.
McCoist: “I know everybody that I have spoken to who doesn’t think that’s a red card.”
Foy: “It’s an interesting one because when I watched the fallout from that particular match. Kris Boyd actually disagreed with you; he felt it was (a red card).”
McCoist: “That backs me up even more.”
Foy: “It really is an interesting decision. We talk about grappling, holding, pulling and pushing. What he’s actually done is, Auston Trusty, he has sort of whacked down on his arm, hasn’t he?
“The situation with this, the referee on-field has given a red card for that. For VAR to intervene and recommend a review, it has to be a clear and obvious error.
“When I looked at that, we will probably disagree on this one. I thought he went down with some real force when he whacked him. Why he did it, only the player knows. Given on the field, VAR won’t intervene with that one. I think it’s a sound decision, albeit you disagree with me.”
McCoist: “I will ask you a question regarding it. If the Hibs player stays on his feet. Is it a red card? I will put it this way: Does he give a red card?”
Foy: “Yeah, he probably does because of the action. It’s not the consequences, it’s actually the action. The way he strikes down with force onto his arm.”
McCoist: “I don’t think there is any way on this planet that he gives a red card if the Hibs player stands on his feet.”
Foy: “That’s your opinion. The referee sees what he only sees and deals with it. He sees the action of the player striking down on his arm with force, and shows him a red card. VAR, looking at that, is it clear evidence to overturn it? No, there isn’t. The player needs to reflect on why he did, what he did.
“As I said, it will divide opinion. You think not. One or two I have spoken to and looked at. They feel as though it was. I don’t have too many complaints with that decision.”
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