Overview
- Referee Goga Kikacheishvili upgraded an on-field booking to a straight red after a VAR replay showed Jürgen Locadia strike Aaron Hickey with an elbow and step on his foot.
- The sending-off followed an earlier incident in which Tahith Chong complained of a shirt pull on Hickey and then Locadia lunged at Hickey in a late, forceful challenge.
- Curaçao lost the friendly 1-4 to Scotland and now face another warm-up match against Aruba while the team waits for FIFA’s disciplinary ruling.
- If FIFA extends the ban beyond typical friendly suspensions the Miami FC forward could miss competitive World Cup matches, altering Curaçao’s planned lineup and preparation.
- Broad reaction focused on the clear replay evidence, with former Scotland player James McFadden telling the BBC that the hit on Hickey was obvious and 'insanity.'