Fire: MLS Disciplinary Committee suspends Watson extra game

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In addition to the mandatory one-match suspension and undisclosed fine that accompanied Matt Watson's red card against FC Dallas on Sunday, the MLS Disciplinary Committee tacked on an additional game and undisclosed fine, the league announced Wednesday.

The 30-year-old's tackle on Dallas midfielder Rolando Escobar in the 79th minute - 11 minutes after replacing right back Lovel Palmer - left referee Jair Marrufo with no choice but to give the Englishmen his marching orders for serious foul play, leaving the Fire with an uphill battle against the then-Western Conference leaders before sealing their 2-0 victory with Shaun Maloney's penalty kick five minutes from time.

“Probably a red," head coach Frank Yallop told reporters after the match, after being asked to convey his thoughts on the decision. "Hopefully, he doesn’t get an extra game, which I don’t think he deserves. He was going for the ball and doesn’t quite clip the fellow, but exposes the bottom of his foot and you can't do that anymore. ... Matt is an honest kid and he felt really bad, but we got through it and so be it. He's okay, but I think it was a red card.”

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As a result, Watson will miss Friday's match against the Portland Timbers and the Fire's trip to face the Philadelphia Union on Aug. 16. The red card does not carry over to Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play, however, rendering him available for selection in Yallop's group ahead of their semifinal contest against the Union at PPL Park on Aug. 12.    

Watson was previously handed a one-match suspension and undisclosed fine for a studs-up challenge - which, in real time, only warranted a yellow card by referee Ricardo Salazar - on New York City FC forward Adam Nemec. The Fire won the match, 1-0, in their first-ever encounter with the expansion club at Toyota Park on April 24. 

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