SFA KMI Panel’s Thelo Aasgaard verdict vs Auston Trusty’s Celtic ‘red card’ exposes media narrative

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The fallout from Celtic’s win over Rangers in the League Cup is still going on now as the KMI Panel give their findings on two big decisions in the game.

The panel reconvened this week to look at all the VAR and on-field decisions from every game in November so far including the Celtic vs Rangers Premiers Sports Cup semi-final.

The game was overshadowed by Celtic defender Auston Trusty’s challenge on Jack Butland and the controversy over Thelo Aasgaard’s red card against Hoops full-back Anthony Ralston.

And just as Celtic were preparing to face Kilmarnock this weekend, the KMI Panel released their findings on both these decisions this week to reignite the whole debate again.

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The SFA KMI Panel did not ‘unanimously’ say Celtic’s Auston Trusty should have been red carded

Now, the media have jumped on the fact that the KMI Panel say Auston Trusty should have been red carded for his challenge on Rangers goalkeeper, Jack Butland.

That is true, but it is not as black and white and nailed on as what is being made out.

The SFA KMI Panel stated:

• Possible red card for C6 challenge on R1 – yellow card awarded: ‘The majority (2:1) of the panel agreed that the on-field decision was incorrect. Two panel members highlighted VAR was incorrect not to intervene to recommend an OFR and a red card should have been awarded.’

So despite the hysteria surrounding ‘everyone’ believing Trusty should have been ordered off, this has been put in its place.

Because even the KMI Panel cannot unanimously agree that the challenge was an immediate red card punishment.

Compare and contrast that to their verdict on Thelo Aasgaard’s ordering off, however.

Compare the SFA KMI Panel’s ‘unanimous’ verdict on Thelo Aasgaard’s Celtic vs Rangers red card

There has been debate from some quarters that Aasgaard didn’t intend to put the boot into Celtic defender Anthony Ralston.

If that debate was meant to put up some form of defence for the Rangers star then it fell on deaf ears as the SFA KMI Panel stated:

• Possible red card for R11 challenge on C56 – red card awarded: ‘The on-field decision was unanimously supported.’

The panel voted 3:0 in favour of the onfield and VAR decision to give Aasgaard his marching orders.

So with the vast majority of the pundits, ex-players and commentators in the game saying Trusty’s challenge on Butland was a ‘clear’ red card, the fact that the KMI Panel couldn’t unanimously agree it was shows that the decision to be made is not as clear cut as the media are making out.