Willie Collum Stands by Officials Over Auston Trusty Decision as Rangers Seek Further Talks with SFA
Referee chief Willie Collum has reportedly given his personal backing to the decision not to send off Celtic’s Auston Trusty during the heated Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers — despite ongoing anger from the Ibrox side.
The incident, which occurred just before half-time in the Old Firm clash at Hampden, left Rangers furious. The club has already written to the Scottish FA demanding an official explanation over the handling of the flashpoint.
Tensions escalated further last week when the independent Key Match Incident (KMI) panel ruled that Trusty should have been sent off, prompting Rangers to review what they describe as “officiating trends” across several seasons. The club reportedly believes the Trusty call forms part of a wider pattern of questionable decisions rather than a one-off error.
However, Collum is understood to be standing firm, offering full support to referee Nick Walsh and VAR official Andrew Dallas, effectively clearing them of wrongdoing. Walsh was not advised to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, and Collum reportedly agrees with their assessment that Trusty’s flick of the boot lacked the force or intent required for a red card.
Rangers are expected to use the KMI verdict as grounds to push for further dialogue with Scottish football’s top officials, hoping to address broader concerns about officiating consistency.
Collum is also anticipated to defend his officials’ handling of two other major incidents from the same match — Thelo Aasgard’s red card for a high boot on Anthony Ralston, and the late penalty awarded to Rangers after the Celtic defender blocked a shot with his arm.
The fallout from the semi-final continues to fuel tensions between Rangers and the SFA, with both sides standing firm on their positions as scrutiny on refereeing standards intensifies.
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