REF WATCH — Dermot Gallagher indirectly revealed the BIG ROBBERY that happened at Tyneside as he shares WHY Celtic shouldn’t have been given a Red Card by the VAR unless Corruption is happening
Dermot Gallagher may not have said it outright, but his analysis has only fuelled claims of a major injustice at Tynecastle, with Celtic supporters convinced a huge robbery unfolded under VAR scrutiny.
Auston Trusty’s dismissal during the 2-2 draw between Hearts and Celtic has continued to split opinion, but the Sky Sports Ref Watch panel discussion has intensified accusations that the Hoops were harshly punished.
The American defender was sent off for fouling Hearts striker Landry Kabore as he broke beyond the Celtic defence. On the pitch, referee Steven McLean judged the incident worthy of only a yellow card. That assessment was later overturned after VAR John Beaton advised an on-field review.
The intervention reduced Celtic to ten men and swung the momentum, allowing Hearts to snatch a late equaliser through Claudio Braga. However, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher’s breakdown of the incident strongly suggested the original decision should have stood.
“It’s really harsh to be honest,” Gallagher told Sky Sports. “The law says DOGSO and the ‘O’ stands for obvious. I think this is possible and the referee has got it right on the field. If you look, the player’s not in possession of the ball, he’s got to carry on after that ball. That’s one thing. He’s moving away from goal. He will get the ball eventually but by the time he gets the ball, the defender will come across.”
Gallagher’s explanation highlighted key factors that undermine the justification for VAR stepping in at all — namely that Kabore was not in control of the ball and was travelling away from goal, with defensive cover still recovering.
Despite that, fellow pundit Jay Bothroyd took the opposite stance, arguing that Kabore’s pace alone made the opportunity dangerous enough to warrant a dismissal.
He said: “It’s a possible goalscoring opportunity, right, that’s where Dermot’s got me. but I know for sure in that situation, when you look at the pace of that player – I was pretty quick – but he’s rapid. He’s going to take a touch inside there and his next touch will take him towards goal. I believe he will get a shot off, which then is a goalscoring opportunity.
“But it’s not obvious. So that’s what Dermot’s saying. The reason why it hasn’t been given initially is because it’s not obvious. The far defender there, Dermot thinks will cover round and maybe get a tackle in or a block. That is a red card and goal scoring opportunity, because that defender isn’t going to get round.”
Gallagher, however, doubled down and made it clear the incident failed to meet fundamental red-card criteria — comments that many Celtic fans feel expose how the decision was forced rather than earned.
He added: “Don’t forget, there’s the other two criteria that it doesn’t fulfil; A, the player is not possession of the ball. Fact. And B, the ball is moving away from goal. Fact,”
For large sections of the Celtic support, those words only deepen the sense of grievance — with VAR intervention once again rewriting a match and leaving lingering questions about consistency, interpretation, and why the on-field referee’s original call was not trusted.
