Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
Eddie Johnson will be eligible to play this Saturday for D.C. United after a decision from an independent review panel.
The 30-year-old forward was shown an early exit on Saturday when referee Juan Guzman controversially sent off Johnson in the 82nd minute of D.C. United’s 2-1 loss to the New England Revolution. Guzman said after the game that a challenge Johnson made on Revolution midfielder Kelyn Rowe represented “serious foul play,” worthy of a sending off.
United appealed the decision, and the review panel unanimously voted to rescind the red card, leaving Johnson available to play on Saturday against Sporting Kansas City. Per MLS, the three-member panel consists of representatives from the U.S. Soccer Federation, the Canadian Soccer Association, and the Professional Referees Organization.
Johnson had just come back from a one-game suspension given for a strong challenge on Montreal Impact goalkeeper Troy Perkins. Johnson has scored one goal and has one assist in 10 games with D.C. United this season.
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What do you think of this news? Glad to see Johnson’s red card rescinded? Do you think it was a red card offense in the first place?
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