{"id":813057,"date":"2026-03-08T21:49:26","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T21:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/813057\/"},"modified":"2026-03-08T21:49:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T21:49:26","slug":"four-key-rangers-vs-celtic-ref-calls-land-expert-verdict-as-forgotten-flashpoint-ripped-to-shreds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/813057\/","title":{"rendered":"Four key Rangers vs Celtic ref calls land expert verdict as forgotten flashpoint ripped to shreds"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Des Roache reckons Auston Trusty had a brass neck after hitting the deck during a largely forgotten second half incident<\/p>\n<p>17:42, 08 Mar 2026Updated 19:25, 08 Mar 2026<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Referee Don Robertson speaks to VAR before ruling out the goal by Daizen Maeda for an offside by Liam Scales in the build up\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0_Rangers-v-Celtic-Scottish-Gas-Scottish-Cup.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Referee Don Robertson speaks to VAR before ruling out the goal by Daizen Maeda for an offside by Liam Scales in the build up\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Referee Don Robertson speaks to VAR before ruling out the goal by Daizen Maeda for an offside by Liam Scales in the build up(Image: SNS Group)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8216;He should be better than that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">That was the straightforward verdict from former Grade One whistler Des Roache after Auston Trusty hit the deck in a largely forgotten <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/all-about\/rangers-fc\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Rangers<\/a> vs <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/all-about\/celtic-fc\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Celtic<\/a> flashpoint.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The attritional Scottish Cup clash will remembered mostly for the <a aria-label=\"worrying pitch invasion chaos that followed Tomas Cvancara&#039;s winning penaltyLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/celtic-member-staff-attacked-amid-36835323\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">worrying pitch invasion chaos that followed Tomas Cvancara&#8217;s winning penalty<\/a>. Prior to that point though it had been a game referee Don Robertson will be happy with as our man Roache reckons he managed it well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">There weren&#8217;t too many controversial incidents \u2013 even the two disallowed goals were overshadowed by what came later \u2013 but there was one bit of play from Trusty that caught our man Roache&#8217;s attention.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Here&#8217;s what Roache exclusively told us about four key incidents during our <a aria-label=\"live coverage of the Scottish Cup clashLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/rangers-vs-celtic-live-score-36834044\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">live coverage of the Scottish Cup clash<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Trusty handball shout<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">There was a big call with just six minutes on the clock as Youssef Chermiti&#8217;s strike appeared to hit the arm of Auston Trusty. Replays showed the arm it made contact with was tucked into his body, so referee Don Robertson gave nothing and after a short VAR review, Andrew Dallas at Clydesdale House elected not to intervene.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Official decision:<\/strong> No handball, no penalty<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Des Roache&#8217;s verdict:<\/strong> &#8220;No penalty. Trusty tries to tuck his arm away. Proximity is key and that&#8217;s not deliberate. Great decision from Don who was so close and able to call it correctly.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Maeda goal disallowed<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The packed-out away end erupted when Luke McCowan&#8217;s cross was flicked on by Liam Scales and Daizen Maeda dived in at the back post to head it into the back of the net. A VAR review though deemed that Scales was in an offside position when the cross came in. Some on social media argued the angle presented on Premier Sports was inconclusive, but the goal was overturned.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Celtic see a goal vs Rangers chopped off by VAR\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0_Screenshot-2026-03-08-at-150753.png\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Celtic see a goal vs Rangers chopped off by VAR\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Celtic see a goal vs Rangers chopped off by VAR<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Official decision: <\/strong>Offside, goal disallowed<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Des Roache&#8217;s verdict:<\/strong> &#8220;The offside was correctly called for the chalked-off goal. Scales came back from an offside position and impacted the game with the knock-on header. Good call from Andrew Dallas on VAR.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Chermiti and Trusty off the ball incident<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Shortly before the hour mark, ref Robertson was called into action to defuse a coming together after Youssef Chermiti and Auston Trusty got into it off the ball. Chermiti, in an attempt to retrieve the ball and restart play, tried to slap it out of Trusty&#8217;s arms but missed and made contact with the defender&#8217;s leg. Trusty then went to ground, but nothing was given and play restarted after some pushing and shoving.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Official decision:<\/strong> Nothing given, play resumed<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Des Roache&#8217;s verdict:<\/strong> &#8220;There was nothing in that coming together and the aftermath was just handbags. Trusty should be better than that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Fernandez disallowed goal<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It was Rangers&#8217; turn to have the ball in the net during extra-time, but replays showed not one but two handballs from the defender \u2013 the most blatant coming when his outstretched arm knocked it into the net. No surprises here after a short VAR review.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Official decision: <\/strong>Handball, goal disallowed<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Des Roache says:<\/strong> &#8220;That is a clear handball. Factual. Another good decision from the referee team. Alert and aware. Correct again.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Des Roache&#8217;s full-time verdict<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Overall Roache was impressed with how ref Don Robertson handled the game. The whistler had a few potential flashpoints to handle but overall it was a low-key refereeing performance \u2013 and in Roache&#8217;s eyes, it was a good one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Des Roache says:<\/strong> &#8220;Don Robertson and his team called all major decisions correctly and prove why he is currently our best referee. Following on from John Beaton last week at the same fixture, this has been a good seven days for Scottish refereeing.&#8221;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Des Roache reckons Auston Trusty had a brass neck after hitting the deck during a largely forgotten second&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":813058,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[4100],"tags":[14023,2628,76431,94,79673,1946,2630,79,212944,16,15],"class_list":["post-813057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-football","tag-auston-trusty","tag-celtic-fc","tag-danny-rohl","tag-football","tag-martin-oneill","tag-rangers-fc","tag-scottish-cup","tag-sports","tag-tomas-cvancara","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116195765356491964","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/813057","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=813057"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/813057\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/813058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=813057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=813057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=813057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}