TUKWILA, Wash. – Seattle Sounders defender Oniel Fisher on Monday took no issue with the red card that sent him packing midway through the team’s MLS regular season opener against Sporting Kansas City.
The second-year defender from Jamaica was shown a straight red card in the 41st minute by referee Alan Kelly for a two-footed tackle on Connor Hallisey as the SKC midfielder cut inside from the left flank. Fisher didn’t make serious physical contact with Hallisey, but the ferocity of the tackle was enough for the straight red, and a token example of the kind of tackle the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) is expected to crack down on in the new season.
The Sounders ultimately lost the game, 1-0.
“I just went in for a tackle … I thought I lunged in for a two-footed tackle, the ref made his decision, and that’s just what it was,” Fisher said. “That was just his decision. At the end of the day he made his decision, I had to leave the field, and that’s what I did.”
Fisher started at right back in place of veteran Tyrone Mears (quad strain), and acquitted himself well until the red card, forcing midfielder Cristian Roldan into the spot at right back while the Sounders played down a man for the second half.
“I thought Oniel’s play was good, up until that point,” said Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid, who conceded Kelly made the right call. “I thought he was having a good game. He got forward well and got himself into some good situations … overall I thought his play was good.”
The red card was the first of Fisher’s MLS career. He picked up four yellow cards in 14 appearances as a rookie in 2015, when he played largely on the left side of the back line.
Fisher will be forced to sit out the Sounders’ upcoming matchup against Real Salt Lake on March 12, but will be eligible to return against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on March 19 in Seattle.
Mears, meanwhile, is expected to resume training on Wednesday.
