Peter Grant criticises Hearts manager Derek McInnes | OneFootball

Former Celtic midfielder Peter Grant has criticised Hearts manager Derek McInnes for remarks suggesting the Hoops rarely receive red cards in domestic competition…

Referee Steven McLean shows Auston Trusty a red card after a VAR review. Hearts v Celtic, 25 January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou.

The debate followed Auston Trusty’s dismissal at Tynecastle on Sunday, which marked Celtic’s first sending-off in the league for nearly two years, the previous incident coming when Yang was sent off controversially at the same ground in March 2024 (with John Beaton on VAR that day too).

Yang sent off at Tynecastle in March 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou.

McInnes acknowledged the club had seen red cards in European matches during that period but said he was surprised the weekend decision only came after a VAR intervention.

Grant, however, accused the Hearts boss of stepping out of line and attempting to influence match officials, urging him to provide concrete examples of occasions when Celtic players should have been dismissed.

Derek McInnes, Manager of Hearts during the Scottish Premiership match between Hearts and Celtic at Tynecastle on January 25, 2026. (Photo by Zak Mauger/Getty Images)

Speaking via Go Radio’s Football Show, Grant said: “I thought Derek’s comments about Celtic not getting red cards were really poor. I think that’s ridiculous. The SFA should look at that because that’s trying to put pressure on referees for me.

“I’d like Derek to say where Celtic should have got a red card anytime this season. If he can point out incidents that he thinks Celtic have got away with fine, no problem. But I thought it was a ridiculous comment and it’s nothing to do with that game – it’s rubbish that.”

Grant went on to insist the original call should have stood, claiming the intervention from VAR official John Beaton was unnecessary and misguided.

Auston Trusty walks off after Referee Steven McLean shows the Celtic defender a red card after a VAR review. Hearts v Celtic, 25 January 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou.

He added: “I think it’s a ridiculous decision whether it’s bias, cheating, whatever way you look at it, he got it wrong. It doesn’t matter what he done, he got it 100 per cent wrong. I don’t care what anybody says. It’s really poor defending by Trusty. He got caught a few times. But I thought he got out of jail I must admit.

“Dane Murray’s done brilliant as a young centre-back coming on cold to the game because he is getting back round.

“Derek McInnes says the player’s going to get a shot in, but I can guarantee you Dane Murray would have got across the pitch. Dane Murray is very quick and Kabore is one of those players that needs to take three or four touches before he can get any shot away.

“He’s proven that throughout his career, look at his goalscoring record.”

Watch below…

Conor Spence

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