Celtic manager manager Martin O’Neil verbally dismantles Scottish officiating in must-watch rant after VAR point to two SFA rules on Heart game

Martin O’Neill rages at Celtic red card vs Hearts as VAR pointed to two SFA rules
Auston Trusty was shown a straight red following a VAR review after a second half challenge on Landry Kabore

Defiant Martin O’Neill insists Auston Trusty should not have been shown a red card during Celtic’s top-of-the-table draw with Celtic.

The Scottish champions were leading the top of the table thriller at Tynecastle thanks to goals when Trusty pulled Landry Kabore as he broke in behind the Hoops defence. Referee Kevin Clancy initially bookED the centre-back for the flashpoint

Baffled Celtic boss O’Neill insists that Liam Scales would have been able to cover the attacker rather than the Jambos man breaking through on goal. The veteran boss also insisted Kabore was going away from goal at the time of the tackle.

The Irishman fumed: “We scored a really fine goal. We were in reasonable control, we give away some real daft free kicks I must admit in the course of proceedings, but we give a goal away after half-time and the game is in the balance.

“We score an absolutely magnificent second goal and the sending off has a major part to play, of course, in the last 20 minutes. I have seen it back (the red card) and I have to say, I don’t see it. I don’t see it at all.

Maybe I have been out of the game too long, maybe I misread the rules. First of all the ball that is played is going away from goal, it’s not in going directly – I can understand that, if that is the case – and remarkably we have a man round on the cover.

“So, the two things; I don’t know why it took such deliberations. It’s not a red card, it’s as simple as that. It’s gone now, but obviously it had a massive bearing on the last 20 minutes.”

The result means Hearts remain six points ahead of the Hoops at the summit – while Rangers move ahead of their rivals into second.

But the 73-year-old insisted he was happy with the point, saying: “We have led twice, as a consequence of leading twice you are obviously disappointed.

“But when the sending off takes place you are backs to the wall. In that sense I am delighted with the team. It would have been nice to take three points.

One never knows, but if we had played with 11 for that last while we might have held on.”

Martin O’Neill is fuming after Celtic’s 2-2 draw with Hearts, sparked by Auston Trusty’s red card. The Celtic boss argues the decision was harsh, citing two key points: the ball was moving away from goal, and there was defensive cover. “It’s not a red card, it’s really as simple as that,” O’Neill said, frustrated with VAR’s involvement ¹ ².

Trusty was initially given a yellow card, but VAR referee John Beaton reviewed the incident, leading to a red card upgrade. O’Neill believes this changed the game’s momentum, especially in the final 20 minutes. Hearts capitalized on the extra man, equalizing late through Claudio Braga ³ ⁴.

O’Neill’s criticism extends beyond this match, hinting at inconsistencies in VAR decisions. Celtic’s struggles continue, now six points behind league leaders Hearts.