Last night, the Philadelphia Union were taking on DC United in what would usually be a relegation six-pointer - if MLS had relegation. As it was, it was a pretty entertaining game. Fafa Picault's 31st minute goal was enough for the Union to get the three points and leapfrog DC.
Referee Sorin Stoica was at the centre of attention twice during the second half. First, he awarded a harsh enough penalty to DC on 69 minutes, which was subsequently missed.
Six minutes later, this incident happened:
#Curiosidad el arbitro habia expulsado a Acosta porque creyo ver una patada. Medunjanin le dice al arbitro que no la sintio, retiran la roja pic.twitter.com/QVZ6LfNImJ
— VZ goal (@VZGoal) June 25, 2017
Stoica adjudged Luciano Acosta to have kicked out at the Union defender and immediately showed a red card to the DC striker. This didn't sit well with Haris Medunjanin - the defender he supposedly kicked. Medunjanin quietly spoke with Stoica and the red card was withdrawn.
Speaking post-game, Medunjanin explained his reasoning:
Suddenly, he pushed me in the back. I feel that only and then I saw the red card. So I spoke a little bit with Acosta and he was saying that he didn't kick me. I said 'I didn't feel it at all'.
Then I went to the referee and he said ‘he kicked you’ and I said ‘I don’t think he kicked me, I think it was just a push’.
That's why it was no red card for me. I think you need to be honest. I didn’t feel a kick, it was just a push.
