Head coach David Gray has insisted that the officials were “100 per cent right” to dismiss Celtic centre-back Auston Trusty against Hibs.
The reigning Scottish title holders escalated the controversy surrounding the key incident to the SFA after Trusty was shown a straight red for violent conduct, having swatted away Jamie McGrath’s arm during a corner in the 2-1 loss.
Referee Matthew MacDermid did not respond to the moment at first, but VAR official Grant Irvine later stepped in.After being directed to the pitchside screen to reassess the episode, the USA international was handed his marching orders. Following an expedited appeal, the ban was confirmed and Trusty is set to sit out the next three fixtures — beginning with Rangers on Sunday.
In the wake of the ruling from Hampden officials, Celtic stated that referee MacDermid had initially described the clash as “nothing” to the VAR team at Clydesdale House. However, Gray has moved to back the implementation of video technology in the Scottish Premiership.Gray told The Evening News: “One thing I would say is, VAR’s been brought in to try and improve the game, to get the right decisions. And VAR 100 per cent got the right decision at the weekend, in my opinion.
“That’s violent conduct. You don’t have to hit somebody in the face to say that. If you strike somebody, that’s why it’s there.
“Now one thing that the VAR process will constantly be doing, I’m sure, is trying to improve all the time as well. So how the process works.“To be honest, they work with managers and coaches, having meetings with Willie Collum, to make sure that we have got a voice, that we are understanding: ‘This is how it works, this is how it could be improved.’ And as long as everyone is working together, it will improve.
“It’s frustrating at times when it doesn’t go your way, but that’s just the way football works. But at the weekend there it got the right result not just for us, it got the right result, full stop.
“So I think that’s why it’s been brought in, and I think that’s an example of it working well.
“But there’s certainly times when it doesn’t, and I think that’s where the frustration comes.”