Celtic learn SFA stance on red card appeal as fine is issued

Celtic’s bid to overturn Auston Trusty’s red card from the match at Hearts has been rejected by the Scottish Football Association.

Trusty was sent off following a VAR review, with John Beaton advising referee Steven McLean to upgrade an initial yellow card to a red.

The decision came during a game that ultimately saw Celtic drop points in a draw, prompting the club to confirm they would challenge the call. Supporters reacted angrily, particularly toward the VAR intervention.

The SFA has now confirmed the appeal was dismissed and issued a brief explanation through its disciplinary update. The governing body stated that the red card, classified under offence A4 for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity as outlined in Law 12, has been reinstated with immediate effect. Celtic have also been instructed to pay a £650 appeal deposit within 30 days.

Law 12, as set out by IFAB, governs situations involving the denial of a goal or a clear scoring chance. In such cases, officials are required to consider several factors, including the distance to goal, the direction of play, the likelihood of the attacker controlling the ball and the position of defenders.

Celtic are expected to seek further clarification over the ruling as debate continues around the interpretation of the incident.