SFA panel rules on four Celtic-Rangers incidents with error flagged as Hearts earn major let-off

That is according to the Scottish Football Association's Key Match Incident panel which has reviewed all the key decisions from the controversial Old Firm clash at Hampden on Sunday, which Celtic won 3-1 after extra-time.

Trusty was shown a yellow card by referee Nick Walsh on the stroke of half-time when he caught Butland in the head with his boot after the ball had been gathered by the Rangers goalkeeper, with VAR official Matthew MacDermid determining that the incident did not warrant further punishment.

Celtic were leading 1-0 at the time, with Rangers having already been reduced to 10 men after midfielder Thelo Aasgaard was given his marching orders for a dangerous tackle on Anthony Ralston earlier in the half.

Rangers subsequently raised "concerns about the consistency of refereeing in Scottish football" after being left "unsatisfied" by the SFA explanation over why Trusty avoided a red card. Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon also admitted Trusty was "very lucky" to remain on the park while Butland himself has stated it was "a difficult one to accept".

The KMI panel, made up of three individuals who work within Scottish football, found by majority that the wrong decision was made and that the incident warranted a red card.

"The majority (2:1) of the panel agreed that the on-field decision was incorrect," the KMI report stated. "Two panel members highlighted VAR was incorrect not to intervene to recommend an OFR and a red card should have been awarded."

Trusty defended himself against the red card accusations when he faced the media on Friday.

"I was just trying to get the ball," he said. "The ref called for a yellow, then VAR checked it and it was a yellow. Then we just got on with it. I haven't really thought too much about it.

"I tapped him. I didn't boot him in the head. I didn't actually mean, you could see my demeanour and my reaction to tapping him on the head. No, I didn't think it was anything. I just obviously apologised.

"No one means to boot somebody in the head or kick somebody in the head. I obviously tapped him on the head and that's all it was. I didn't really think anything much of it. I was apologetic and you see my hand to him saying I'm sorry.

"No matter rivalry or whatever it is, that's not the kind of human I am."

The KMI panel unanimously agreed that the correct outcome was reached in the other main flashpoints in the match including the decision to award Derek Cornelius a yellow card - rather than a red - for a challenge on the ankle of Cetlic's Johnny Kenny, the penalty awarded to Rangers for a handball against Anthony Ralston and the red card shown to Aasgaard.

In total the panel reviewed 18 incidents from the recent matches involving VAR with one other error flagged in the match between St Mirren and league leaders Hearts in Paisley last Wednesday. The home side were found to have been wronged when they were prevented from going 3-1 ahead after Miguel Freckleton's second goal was controversially ruled out for an offside against Mark O'Hara, who was deemed to have impeded Lawrence Shankland from an offside position.

The decision to disallow the goal was made after VAR official Nick Walsh summoned referee Matthew MacDermid to the pitchside monitor. Hearts went on to secure a 2-2 draw which preserved their unbeaten start to the league season.

"The panel unanimously agreed the on-field decision of goal to be correct," the KMI report stated. "The panel members felt the VAR intervention should not have taken place and the goal should not have been disallowed after OFR for offside."