SFA KMI panel say Auston Trusty should have been sent off for foul on Jack Butland in League Cup semi-final

The Scottish Football Association’s Key Match Incident panel has decided that Auston Trusty should have been sent off in Celtic’s League Cup semi-final victory over Rangers.

The defender was booked for a foul on Jack Butland after he caught the goalkeeper with a trailing foot at the end of the first half.

Celtic would go on to win the game 3-1 after extra time with goals from Johnny Kenny, Callum McGregor, and Callum Osmand, and they will now play St Mirren in next month’s final.

However, two of the three-person KMI panel say the referee was wrong not to show him a red card and the VAR team also made a mistake in not flagging the incident for an on-field review.

Rangers had earlier been reduced to ten men when Thelo Aasgaard was sent off for a waist high challenge on Anthony Ralston, and a penalty was also awarded to the Ibrox side for a handball by the Celtic right-back.

The KMI panel unanimously agreed with both of those decisions.

It stated: “The majority (2:1) of the panel agreed that the on-field decision was incorrect.

“Two panel members highlighted VAR was incorrect not to intervene to recommend an on field review and a red card should have been awarded.”

The panel were also unanimous in the decision that St Mirren’s disallowed goal in their 2-2 draw with Hearts last midweek should have stood.

Miguel Freckleton’s strike was ruled out after a VAR review during the draw in Paisley last Wednesday.

The KMI decision said: “The panel unanimously agreed the on-field decision of goal to be correct.

“The panel members felt the VAR intervention should not have taken place and the goal should not have been disallowed after the on field review for offside.”