SFA to give Rangers public explanation over controversial Auston Trusty decision
The Ibrox side have demanded answers from the Hampden powerbrokers but they will go public with their reasoning
Rangers will have to wait until later this month for Willie Collum’s public explanation on why Celtic ace Auston Trusty dodged red at Hampden.
Furious Ibrox chiefs have reached out to the SFA’s head of refereeing to demand an explanation on why Trusty was allowed to see out their 3-1 extra-time defeat to Celtic in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final after he appeared to kick Gers keeper Jack Butland’s head.
Match official Nick Walsh decided the incident did not involve the necessary force to merit a straight dismissal and flashed a yellow card instead.
But that hasn’t gone down well with Rangers, who feel Trusty should have walked for endangering the safety of his opponent.
Record Sport understands Hampden bosses have no plans to respond publicly to the Ibrox request for answers.
But Collum will address the furore when he sits down with presenter and broadcaster Gordon Duncan for his monthly VAR Review show which is broadcast on YouTube.
As yet, no date has been set for the programme to be filmed but insiders say it is expected during the upcoming international break.
Only then will Collum give his take on Walsh’s decision not to balance up the red card count having earlier sent Gers’ Thelo Aasgaard off for a reckless challenge on Hoops defender Tony Ralston.
Rangers captain James Tavernier admits he was stunned that Trusty was not dismissed.
He raged: “With Thelo, the ref said it’s the force of how he's gone into the challenge. You know, he's not really seen Ralston come for the ball. He's just gone for the ball.
“But then Jack's diving on the floor, he's already got the ball and he gets kicked in the head.
"No matter what the intent is, it's still intent and you can't kick a goalkeeper in the head.
“So you'd expect the same level of approach. And then obviously further into the game, Dio [Mohamed Diomande] gets kicked in the stomach area just where you'd say the same place and nothing's done.
“But that's no excuses. We have to as a team be more clinical in that game.
“It's disappointing, but you know, it's up to us to react to them moments. You know, things are going to get thrown at us, nothing's always going to go your way. So, it's down to us to react.
“I thought we reacted quite well, but it's just the small margins in these big games - it's the details you have to be really good at.”
Celtic took an early lead at the National Stadium when Johnny Kenny pounced for the opener.
Tavernier hit back from the spot late on to level for Danny Rohl’s 10-man outfit after Ralston was penalised for handball.
That sent the game to extra-time but goals from Callum McGregor and Callum Osmond fired Martin O’Neill’s Parkhead outfit through to the final, where they will face St Mirren on December 14.