Referee Willie Collum is facing the end of his officiating career for the controversial red card he handed out to Rangers star Daniel Candeias on Saturday, according to a beIN Sports journalist.
Derek Clark, who covers Scottish football for the broadcaster, was stunned after Candeias was booked for celebrating his 80th-minute opener with the Rangers fans in the 2-0 win against St Mirren in Paisley and then was given a second yellow by Collum after an exchange with opponent Anton Ferdinand.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard slammed the dismissal as “embarrassing” for the Scottish game and Clark has gone a step further by claiming the red is a “career ender” for Collum and “the clanger of all clangers”.
That’s a career ender for Willie Collum, the clanger of all clangers https://t.co/iP77Y28koB
— Derek Clark (@derekclarksport) November 3, 2018
OPINION
Career ender or will Scottish football authorities continue to put their trust in Collum to oversee top flight matches? Rangers fans have long held senior Scottish ref Collum in contempt, and conspiracy theories abounded on social media following the last-gasp triumph in Paisley, as Gerrard’s side secured a much-needed triumph on the road to breathe new life into their title hopes. It’s not the first major blunder from Collum, but could it now be the last? Or, the last in a top-flight game? Certainly, experienced broadcaster Clark appears to think so, although it’s unclear whether this is his opinion, or based on sourced information. The problem for the SFA is that Collum’s decisions are too often bringing ridicule to the game north of the border, with the Candeias red card the most startling example of baffling and inept officiating. The domestic rule-makers need to take a firm stance and demote him for the coming weekend, and possibly even extend it after the international break. That would send out the strongest message.