CARSON, Calif. – There will be no appeal from the LA Galaxy for Oscar Sorto’s controversial red card that was awarded by MLS referee Ismail Elfath in the late stages of the club’s 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo last week, Bruce Arena confirmed on Monday.
Sorto was awarded the red card for a tackle from behind on the Dynamo’s David Horst deep in stoppage time. The red card spoiled what had been a strong first career MLS start for the 20-year-old at left back.
After the match, Houston head coach Owen Coyle said that the foul was clear penalty but Galaxy boss Bruce Arena disagreed with the Englishman’s assessment.
“It wasn’t clear. If there was any legitimate contact, it was outside the penalty area. We’ve actually seen it with pictures, if there was any contact initiated; it was outside the penalty area. He’s certainly entitled to his opinion, he can say what he wants, I can say what I want, and it’s all part of good debate.”
Galaxy captain Robbie Keane spoke to Coyle afterward and stated that the Dynamo coach told him that the foul was not a red card, but still voiced his displeasure that Sorto would be unavailable for Houston.
“I think that the league should appeal anyway on behalf of us because it was a joke. We shouldn’t have to appeal because it wasn’t a red card,” Keane told reporters. “We’re all guilty of having a bad game, and sometimes, it’s best to just hold your hand up because everyone can see that you’re having a bad game. Everyone knows that players have bad games, and referees have bad games.
“It’d be nice if referees just said that they had a bad game. It happens in England sometimes if they make a mistake…and I think that people would respect them more for it. … If [referee assessors] are watching then they need to have strong words when they have a bad game. Bruce would have strong words with us. It’s just the way it is. It needs to be addressed because he had a bad game. As I said on [Friday], if you ask 100 people then 100 people would say it wasn’t a red card.”
As for who starts at left back on Wednesday, Arena told reporters that the team is still undecided on who to start against Real Salt Lake.
