Celtic lose Trusty appeal but King red overturned

February 25, 2026 No Comments

Celtic lose Trusty appeal but King red overturned Image source, SNSImage caption, Auston Trusty will serve a suspension but Richard King will not be bannedPublished51 minutes agoCeltic have been unsuccessful in their appeal against the red card shown to Auston Trusty in their Scottish Premiership defeat by Hibernian, with the defender now to serve a three-match ban.However, St Mirren were successful in challenging Richard King’s sending off in Saturday’s loss to Motherwell and the centre-back has had his suspension overturned. Trusty, 27, was dismissed with the score 1-1 at Celtic Park following an incident with Hibs’ Jamie McGrath as the pair jostled at a corner. The defending champions lost 2-1.The defender will be banned for three games, including Sunday’s Old Firm derby at Rangers, before Scottish Premiership games away at Aberdeen and at home to Motherwell.Watch: Celtic v Hibernian – Sportscene highlights22/02/26Watch on iPlayer

Violent conduct carries an automatic two-match suspension but Trusty incurred an additional one-match ban, having previously been sent off in the competition this season.

However, Trusty will be available for the Scottish Cup quarter-final away to Rangers on 8 March.

The Scottish FA reported in relation to the Trusty decision: “Payment of £650 Appeal Deposit to be made within 30 days.”

Speaking after full-time on Sunday, Celtic boss Martin O’Neill reported “I’ve just had a word with the referee. He reported he was going to just have a word with the two players then VAR intervened and reported it was violent conduct.

“You can’t do this if that’s the rules now. It doesn’t matter if someone is holding on to you. You can’t, in an attempt to break away, you can’t thrust down in the manner in which he did.”

Watch: St Mirren v Motherwell – Sportscene highlights

21/02/26

Watch on iPlayer

St Mirren defender King, 24, was sent off in his side’s 5-0 defeat by Motherwell in Paisley on Saturday. With his team trailing 3-0, the centre-back was involved in an incident with Callum Slattery and the Motherwell player fell to the ground.

Referee Calum Scott did not see the incident, issuing the red card on the advice of his assistant, and VAR did not intervene to ask him to review footage.

The independent panel ruled King should not have been dismissed and he will be available to face Livingston in Saturday’s league game at Almondvale.