Andy Halliday Slams Nick Walsh’s Decision Not to Send Off Auston Trusty in Celtic vs Rangers Clash
Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday has launched a furious attack on referee Nick Walsh and VAR after Auston Trusty escaped a red card during Celtic’s 3–1 win over Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden Park.
The flashpoint came late in the first half when Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland gathered a loose ball inside his own box. Celtic defender Auston Trusty challenged for it but appeared to leave his leg in, catching Butland in the head with his boot. Despite the contact, Walsh opted to show only a yellow card — a decision that infuriated Halliday and other pundits, including Ally McCoist, who described the call as one of the worst he’s seen in years.
Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, McCoist said:
“Remarkably, the referee did not send off the Celtic centre-half for deliberately kicking the Rangers goalkeeper in the head. It was one of the worst decisions I’ve seen in a long time — and then VAR don’t send him off either.”
The incident added to an already fiery contest that had seen Rangers reduced to ten men earlier in the half when Thelo Aasgaard was dismissed for a reckless challenge on Anthony Ralston. Celtic went into the break 1-0 up, but the Trusty incident became a major talking point among fans and pundits alike.
Halliday, who was watching the match live on Open Goal’s watchalong stream, didn’t hold back his anger. Reacting in real time, the Motherwell player branded the referee’s call as “f***ing laughable,” insisting Trusty should have been sent off.
“Red card all day long,” Halliday fumed. “He’s booted him in the head when Butland’s already got the ball in his hands. That is embarrassing — Scottish football, man. That’s mad.”
Halliday continued his rant, slamming the lack of consistency in officiating and accusing officials of getting major decisions wrong in big games:
“Butland’s got both hands on the ball, Trusty kicks him in the head, and it’s just a yellow? Honest to God, that’s ridiculous. Watch people try to defend that — it’s beyond a joke.”
While Halliday didn’t feature for Motherwell in their own semi-final defeat to St Mirren earlier in the weekend, he made his presence felt online as he passionately defended his former club.
Rangers had battled back with ten men after Aasgaard’s sending off, eventually equalizing through a James Tavernier penalty, but Celtic proved too strong in extra-time, with Callum McGregor and Callum Osmand sealing a 3–1 win and a place in the Premier Sports Cup final.
Despite the result, the focus after the match has remained firmly on the officiating decisions — particularly the Trusty challenge — which continue to divide fans, pundits, and former players across Scotland.
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