Candeias Red Card Another Example of SFA Incompetence

Daniel Candeias received an ejection from a second yellow card in an absurd decision on the pitch. The SFA have made it worse by upholding the decision.

A week ago Rangers were on the road playing against St. Mirren in a Scottish Premiership match in the middle of a very difficult stretch of play for the Glasgow club.

As the game entered it’s closing minutes, it was still tied at zero to zero with worry and frustration mounting for Rangers against the lowly St Mirren. However, Daniel Candeias got Rangers over the hump, by scoring a spectacular goal from well outside the box to put Rangers up 1-0. In celebration of such a spectacular and meaningful goal, Candeias went to the visiting Rangers fans and began blowing kisses, a reasonable reaction to such a fantastic goal. Referee Willie Collum, however, did not see it as such and gave the Portugues international a yellow-card for taunting.

The original yellow-card was given since Collum believed Candeias to be blowing kisses at St Mirren players, which he seemed to be doing, however, the decision to give a card for it was certainly absurd.

Shortly later, in injury time, Alfredo Morelos scored another goal to firmly put the last nail in the coffin to ensure that Rangers left the match with all three points in their possession. Candeias had a brief conversation with the keeper, then was approached by Anton Ferdinand, the primary player he blew kisses at earlier, who proceeded to put the winger in a head-lock and attempt to punch him in the chin.

Collum decided to book both players, since clearly Candeias should’ve been more careful not to put his face so close to Ferdinand’s fist, and Candeias was sent off and suspended for Rangers next game against Motherwell.

Rangers made an appeal, but the SFA stood by the referee saying that there was no mistaken identity and the ref had correctly identified Candeias. It further shows the ineptitude by the SFA in a season that has not been kind to them. They should’ve simply done the right thing and relinquished the card.