Dermot Gallagher weighs in on Celtic’s two controversial VAR moments | OneFootball

Dermot Gallagher has weighed in on Celtic’s two controversial VAR moments over the weekend following a 2-1 home defeat to Hibs…

22.02.2026 Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership. Referee Matthew MacDermid conveys his VAR decision on Auston Trusty red card. Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO.

The key talking points from Celtic’s loss to David Gray’s side have centred on Auston Trusty’s dismissal and the decision not to award a spot-kick following Jack Iredale’s shirt pull on Liam Scales.

Although the penalty claim has sparked debate, the prevailing view among pundits has been that Trusty’s red card was warranted after he reacted by striking Jamie McGrath prior to a corner being taken by the Hoops in the second half.

22.02.2026 Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership. Liam Scales rages at Matthew MacDermid after being fouled at a corner but no penalty given. Kenny Ramsay IMAGO

Martin O’Neill revealed after the match that Matthew MacDermid had initially intended to calm the situation by speaking to both players, but was advised by Grant Irvine on VAR to take a second look at the incident on the monitor. The flashpoint was examined by the Ref Watch panel on Sky Sports on Monday.

When asked whether the official’s first instinct would have been the more suitable course of action, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher responded with his verdict.

“The problem is once the referee is alerted to it, the player grabs hold of Trusty’s arm and Trusty bangs him to get him off,” he said.

22.02.2026 Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership. Matthew MacDermid Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO

“That is what he is trying to do, but when you see VAR and go to the screen, it looks as though he has done it with too much aggression. It is one of those things that the referee deals with on the field and it is fair enough, but once sent to VAR, you cannot unsee something.”

Pundit Jay Bothroyd then said: “Too much’ is subjective though, isn’t it? Once you see the video, it is frustrating. I have been in that situation where someone is holding you and you want to get your arms off them, but it looks more aggressive than it should have been. When you slow it down, it looks even worse. That is why they have given that decision with the red card.”

The pair then watched Scales’ penalty incident and both came to the same conclusion that the decision not to send MacDermid to the monitor was the correct one.

Gallagher outlined: “Not enough. I understand he is frustrated and thinks his shirt was pulled. It gets pulled because that is what players do when they are reaching for each other. There is not enough there.”

Bothroyd added: “In that situation, it looks like he is looking for the penalty. When it is an honest situation where you are getting away from someone, there is more contact for longer. As soon as he felt that contact, he fell to the floor. That is where there is not enough.”

Conor Spence

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