James Tavernier Reveals Referee Explanation it’s does not what it but it’s over to the spfl to decide Over Auston Trusty Flashpoint
- James Tavernier Reveals Referee Explanation Over Auston Trusty Flashpoint
Rangers captain James Tavernier has lifted the lid on his post-match exchange with referee Nick Walsh following the controversial incident involving Celtic defender Auston Trusty and Jack Butland during Sunday’s fiery Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden.
Tavernier revealed that he questioned Walsh over why Trusty wasn’t shown a red card after the Celtic centre-half appeared to catch Butland on the head while chasing down a loose ball.
Dallas and McLean on VAR checked the incident, and agreed with the referee’s on-field decision of a booking.
“He just said it’s obviously [down to] the force of the stamp,” Tavernier told the Herald.
But it’s still the intent, the intent is obviously to put a boot on his head. So no matter if it’s hard or soft, it’s still his head. That’s obviously their job. But there’s no excuses for us today.”
However, Tavernier’s version of events doesn’t quite line up with the reality. Replays clearly showed no intent from Trusty, whose foot glanced Butland’s head lightly as both players challenged for the ball. The American defender’s eyes were fixed on the ball throughout, and the contact came only as Butland dived low to gather it.
He apologised straight away to Butland, clearly accidental.
VAR officials reviewed the incident and determined that Trusty’s challenge was reckless rather than dangerous, warranting a yellow card, a decision that Premier Sports later confirmed on-air as being in line with VAR protocol.
It’s worth remembering that Butland looked liek he could have spilled the ball, too, which explains why Trusty’s follow-through carried him into the challenge. There was no force, no malice and certainly no intent to make contact with the goalkeeper’s head.
While Rangers’ frustrations are understandable in defeat, the suggestion that Trusty’s challenge was deliberate simply doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. The referee and VAR got this one right. It was clumsy, not malicious.
James Tavernier, the Rangers captain, recently shared his side of the story regarding the controversy surrounding Auston Trusty’s challenge on Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland during their Scottish Premier Sports Cup semi-final match. Trusty was booked for the incident, which occurred late in the first half.
According to Tavernier, the referee, Nick Walsh, told him that the amount of force used in the challenge was the determining factor in deciding not to send Trusty off. Tavernier revealed that Walsh said, “It’s obviously [down to] the force of the stamp.” However, Tavernier’s version of events has been disputed, with many believing that Trusty’s challenge was accidental.
Replays showed that Trusty’s foot glanced Butland’s head lightly as both players challenged for the ball, with Trusty apologizing immediately after the incident. The VAR officials reviewed the incident and agreed with Walsh’s decision, stating that Trusty’s challenge was reckless rather than dangerous.
Rangers are seeking a formal explanation from the Scottish FA over the incident, with the club believing that Trusty should have been dismissed for serious foul play or violent conduct. Meanwhile, Celtic fans have been defending Trusty, with many taking to social media to express their support for the defender ¹ ².
It’s worth noting that Auston Trusty has been having a good run with Celtic, starting in all four of their games across all competitions before the international break. However, he’s been ruled out of the US Men’s National Team’s upcoming fixtures due to injury
