Martin O'Neill Rebukes Frank McAvennie And Backs USMNT Defender Auston Trusty's Bereavement Leave

Martin O'Neill made it clear that Celtic defender Auston Trusty has the complete backing of both his manager and the club to take all the time he needs following the death of his father.

The Celtic boss addressed the situation directly after public remarks caused a sharp debate across Scottish football.

Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie had sparked significant controversy by publicly questioning the defender's absence.

Speaking to the media, O'Neill offered an emphatic defense of his center-back.

The manager dismissed any suggestion that bereavement leave should come with a strict time limit.

He confirmed that the United States international has the complete support of everyone at the club during this difficult period.

O'NEILL REBUKES PODCAST CRITICISM

During his press conference, O'Neill did not hold back when asked about McAvennie's recent comments.

"That's really poor taste. I know I've said some things and ended up backtracking. But that's a family bereavement."

O'Neill explained that deciding someone else's timeline for grief is completely wrong.

"And that's making someone's mind up about how long they should be grieving and stuff like this here. That's not on."

The Celtic manager emphasized that he understands the personal nature of loss from his own life.

He pointed out that nobody should dictate how another person navigates tragedy.

"Trusty asked me for some time [off]. Even if it's a celebration [of his late father’s life], it doesn't matter."

O'Neill revealed that the player's father had been dealing with severe health issues for an extended period.

"The father's been in poor health for quite some considerable time."

"And I know there was a stage where he thought that he wasn't going to see it through."

O'Neill drew directly upon his own personal experiences when discussing why he stands completely beside his defender.

"But I'm with Trusty the whole way there. Because I wouldn't want anybody to tell me that I had to grieve over a brother or sister dying. And I've had that."

THE REALITIES OF COMPASSIONATE LEAVE

O'Neill also noted the defender's age and how deeply the loss has impacted him.

"He's 28 years of age. And he's taken it badly. Honestly. I've afforded him all the time he wants."

The Celtic manager made it clear that football matters remain secondary to the loss of a parent.

"At some stage, obviously, he'll be coming back."

O'Neill acknowledged that older generations might view professional commitments through a different lens.

However, he flatly rejected the notion that past attitudes should dictate modern decisions.

"But at the end of the day, I've given that time because I know that we might be talking about different eras or whatever the case may be."

"That's nothing to do with it. This is a family thing. And that's not right."

The manager concluded his thoughts by reaffirming his personal backing and the backing of Celtic.

"So, Trusty has got the time and he's got the backing of myself and he's got the backing of the club."

THE COMMENTS THAT SPARKED THE CONTROVERSY

The entire controversy started when McAvennie discussed Trusty's situation on his Let Me Be Frank podcast.

Trusty had received initial time off after his father passed away.

The 28-year-old defender then returned to training with Celtic.

Following his return to work, O'Neill granted Trusty another weekend away.

This extra leave allowed the American defender to travel back home to the United States.

Trusty traveled to attend a service celebrating the life of his late father.

During the podcast, McAvennie voiced frustration over the player being away from the squad.

"I’ve got every respect for that, but how long do you want off?"

McAvennie asked on the show.

"Martin (O’Neill) says he’s away to celebrate the life of his dad."

McAvennie then questioned the timing given Celtic's recent sporting troubles.

"Celebrate the life? You’ve got football. You’re getting paid and we’re in trouble. How long is it going to be?"

McAvennie also dismissed the broader understanding of modern compassionate leave during the broadcast.

"It’s the woke brigade now, isn’t it?"

McAvennie compared the situation to the death of his own father.

"It’s nonsense. My dad was the best man, the only man I looked up to, when he died."

"But you’ve got to get on with it."

PODCAST PUSHBACK AND CRITICISM

McAvennie did not receive an easy ride during the podcast recording itself.

Presenter Simon Houston immediately pushed back against McAvennie's comments during the episode.

Houston reminded the former striker that everyone experiences and processes grief in their own way.

Despite that reminder, McAvennie doubled down and described that viewpoint as a woke idea.

That podcast exchange quickly drew substantial criticism across social media and mainstream sports outlets.

Supporters and media commentators heavily criticized McAvennie for his remarks.

Many condemned the remarks as unnecessary scapegoating of the American center-back.

Others noted that grief is deeply personal and inherently variable for every single individual.

Critics argued that using a player's bereavement to create a podcast soundbite crossed an unacceptable line.

TIMING AROUND THE FALKIRK MATCH

The timing of McAvennie's outburst coincided with a difficult weekend on the pitch for Celtic.

Trusty was absent while attending the celebration of his father's life in the United States.

During that same weekend, Celtic suffered a 2-0 Scottish Premiership defeat to Falkirk.

That match highlighted the pressure on the squad during a demanding stretch of fixtures.

Yet O'Neill maintained that competitive results must never supersede basic human compassion.

The manager stood firm on granting Trusty the necessary time to mourn with his family in America.

TWO STATEMENTS AND AN APOLOGY

As the backlash grew online, McAvennie released a public statement to address the fallout.