The Chicago Fire will be without midfielder Matt Watson for Sunday’s game at Sporting Kansas City after Major League Soccer issued a one-game suspension and unspecified fine for “serious foul play” during last week’s game against New York City FC.
The league’s Disciplinary Committee announced the decision late Wednesday afternoon after reviewing a play that occurred in the 27th minute of last Friday’s game at Toyota Park.
“It is the Committee’s unanimous decision that Matt Watson’s action was serious foul play that endangered the safety of an opponent,” the league stated. “Mr. Watson is suspended for 1 game and fined an undisclosed amount for this play.”
Watson slid into and tripped New York forward Adam Nemec on the play as an official issued a yellow card for the transgression.
Watson, now in his second season with the Fire and fourth in MLS, would be eligible to play when the Fire host Real Salt Lake on May 9.