Case closed.
MLS announced on Wednesday that an independent review panel has rescinded the one-game suspension and fine associated with the controversial red card issued to Seattle Sounders forward Obafemi Martins in this past Saturday night's league match against Chivas USA.
The decision allows Martins to be eligible for Saturday's match against the Vancouver Whitecaps (10:30 pm ET, NBC Sports Network), a Cascadia Cup rivalry clash that will see upwards of 50,000 fans in attendance at CenturyLink Field.
Martins was originally shown a straight red by referee Ricardo Salazar in the 71st minute of Seattle's 2-0 win at Chivas USA after a tussle with Goats player Gabriel Farfan.
But Seattle resorted to the red-card review process in place this season. MLS clubs can appeal to have red-card decisions reviewed by an independent panel made up of one representative from the U.S. Soccer Federation, Canadian Soccer Association, and Professional Referees Organization (PRO). Click here for details on the review process.
Two red-card suspensions have already been rescinded this year by virtue of the mechanism. Chivas USA's Joaquín Velásquez (read story here) and Real Salt Lake's Carlos Salcedo (read story here) saw their suspensions erased earlier this season.
