Daniel Candeias’ sending off against St Mirren bemused many, and Rangers are so infuriated that they’re set to appeal the decision, according to the Daily Record.
Despite the fact the rules state no club can appeal two yellow cards, Rangers are putting their foot down. Steven Gerrard was furious at the decision, which Willie Collum made after a coming together between Candeias and Anton Ferdinand.
Candeias didn’t appear to do anything wrong. If anything, it looked as though Ferdinand was being the aggressor. In typical Collum fashion, however, he made the wrong decision and sent the Rangers man off.
Rangers have been raging at the decision since Saturday. Now, they’ve sent a request to the SFA for a hearing that’s been accepted. At that hearing, Collum is going to have to explain his actions.
That means Rangers and the supporters are finally going to get the long-awaited answer they’ve been looking for. It will be interesting to see just what comes of this appeal, but it shows good initiative by the Ibrox club.
Hypocritical system
Incredibly, the SFA Compliance Officer, Clare White, can upgrade yellow cards to red cards but not vice-versa. It’s an incredibly hypocritical system that defies logic, particularly in situations such as the one Rangers find themselves in.
Candeias has since opened up on the subject. Like many, he’s been baffled as to why he was given his marching orders.
“I saw the first yellow for celebrating with the fans. In the second goal I celebrated exuberantly because we were being provoked by the opponents.
“Their keeper came up to me and said to me, ‘You’re winning, you do not have to do that’. I agreed and said it was about the moment because I rarely get into trouble.
“Until the central defender, Ferdinand, came up and began to squeeze my shoulder and then my neck. And I, doing nothing, saw the second yellow. There is no justification for the sending-off and everyone was incredulous with the red card.”
It’s a shame that it’s come to this. The SFA like to embarrass themselves on a consistent basis, and these rules show that. Fortunately, Scottish football’s governing body appear ready to listen to Rangers’ case.
The best-case scenario here is that the rules are changed. It’s been widely acknowledged that Candeias should never have been sent off. If the SFA see that as the case, then they simply must take action. Not just on Candeias’ red, but their process as a whole.
