Arbitrator explains why he expelled Cristian Roldan



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SEATTLE – During his adult life, Cristian Roldan had only received one red card. He arrived in a university match when he won the lead but his opponent was injured in the game. The red card was finally canceled.

The second red card Roldan arrived Sunday. There is at least a small chance that this will be canceled as well.

The Sounders at least said they were considering appealing Ted Unkel's decision to eject Roldan in the 18th minute after he was "deliberately" slapped in the face during a fight.

The foundation of the appeal will almost certainly depend on Roldan's decision to hit Atuesta. The journalists were allowed to ask Unkel two questions about this decision. Both responses clearly showed that perceived intent was paramount in the decision-making process.

Question: What factors were taken into account in the decision to issue a red card to Cristian Roldan?

Answer: "The deliberate strike of his opponent in the face with a force more than negligible."

Question: Has the potential accidental nature of the contact been taken into account?

Answer: "This has been considered and judged deliberate."

Unkel's first response is almost entirely out of the rules book, which says: "a player who, when not looking for the ball, deliberately Strikes an opponent or other person on the head or face with the hand or arm, is guilty of violent driving unless the force employed is negligible. "

If the Review Committee determines that Roldan did not deliberately attack Atuesta, they would be entitled to reinstate him in Saturday's game at Minnesota United.

Roldan, for one, was adamant about the fact that he did not want to hit Atuesta.

"Well, I do not want to go overboard, but it's a big game, it's a huge game," Roldan said. "There are contacts, there are problems everywhere on the ground. I think you have to treat it like a big game. After what I've seen, I'm doing a good tackle, the ball goes out of bounds, I'm jostled by Kaye, I'm pushed, I'm defend and push him back, I get fired from another guy [Atuesta]my hands go in the air, completely accidental.

"Look, I'm not a guy who raises his hands often enough. I am a guy who plays as honestly as possible. I'm not here to disagree, but to be honest, it was not deliberate. That's really the whole message behind all this. It's a huge game and I never want to hurt my team, and the fact that it may have seemed deliberate, I was pushed and my hands got up. There is a contact with the face, there is a bit of embellishment, but as I said, it's a huge game and I think it should be treated as it. "

Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer was equally enthusiastic in his defense of Roldan's intentions.

"I tell you that I know Cristian better than Ted Unkel," said Schmetzer after being informed of the referee's explanation. "Cristian's not deliberately … you can all watch the movie and everyone will see what he sees." I will not argue with the referees, but I know Cristian. Cristian did not do it on purpose. He is not that kind of player.

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