Jermine Taylor will NOT face a ban after his red card vs Sporting Kansas City
Houston, Texas – The Independent Review Panel has rescinded the fine and one-game suspension for the red card issued to Houston Dynamo defender Jermaine Taylor in the April 25 game against Sporting Kansas City.
The Houston Dynamo submitted an appeal for review of the play. The appeal was unanimously upheld by the Independent Review Panel. As a result, Taylor will be available for the Dynamo’s next match against FC Dallas on Friday, May 1 at BBVA Compass Stadium (7:00 p.m. CT, UDN).
The Independent Review Panel consists of one representative from the U.S. Soccer Federation, Canadian Soccer Association and Professional Referees Organization (PRO).
In addition to rescinding Taylor’s red card, the disciplinary panel dished out a fine and retrospective suspension for Sporting Kansas City’s Servando Carrasco.
You can watch both incidents here via Simon Borg’s instant replay YouTube video for MLS.
The incident involving Carrasco happened in a melee that ensued after a coming together between Kevin Ellis and Giles Barnes. Dynamo captain Brad Davis took issue with the challenge and Carrasco can be seen to swing his left hand, connecting with Davis’ face.
The incident involving Jermaine Taylor occurred in the 77th minute with Sporting Kanas City having just had a shout for a penalty turned down. The ball broke toward goal and the Jamaican international brilliantly threw his body in front of the ball on the goal line, blocking the Sporting KC effort on goal.
When the whistle blew, the telecast involving former Dynamo’s Eddie Robinson and Glenn Davis assumed the referee had given an offside decision, and were shocked to find he had given a penalty. Sporting Kansas City converted the penalty and the game went on to finish 4-4. Houston led 3-2 at the time of the decision.
After the game manager Owen Coyle and Kevin Stott had words, we have no details of what was said, but Kevin Stott did confirm to media pool representative Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle that not only did he make the decision without help from his assistant referee, he saw the ball hit Jermaine Taylor’s arm.
When media posed this question to veteran DaMarcus Beasley he exclaimed “what handball?!” before adding “I was right in front of Jermaine trying to cover, and his hand was behind him, the ref told me he had his hand out but obviously he didn’t see it.”
Dynamo manager Owen Coyle also confirmed during the press conference that the ball hit Jermaine Taylor in the chest but did not indicate at the time that there was any plan to appeal the suspension.
Some Dynamo fans have expressed some confusion as to why the Dynamo might appeal a one game suspension with David Horst showing he is more than a capable replacement, when the team only gets two appeals per season. MLS official rules state that due to the fact that the Dynamo won the appeal for the suspension they do not lose any appeals — Houston would only lose an appeal if the appeal was turned down.
Although there has been no comment from the Professional Referees Organization, Kevin Stott has been demoted to 4th official for the LA Galaxy’s home game versus the Colorado Rapids this week.
The PRO did however discuss the advantage rule, and why Kevin Stott got the decision correct by deciding to not send off Tyler Deric after he brought down Dom Dwyer for Kansas City’s second goal.
The Houston Dynamo will take on FC Dallas Friday night with a full strength side providing Boniek Garcia recovers from his knee sprain. Kick off is at 7pm central time at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Follow Scott Nicholls on twitter: @scottnicholls
