Not sure who the Center was or the year. It was a game in Mexico. The bench ref allowed ER to enter the game. He scored relatively quickly afterward and the goal was disallowed. I believe, because he didn't have a number on his jersey. A number on a jersey is most likely a legit rule, IDK, but it seemed like a homer job at the time.
Bold and italics mine for emphasis. If it is, it's a North American thing because Reading had a player wear a numberless jersey after he bled on his regular one during an FA Cup round of 16 match vs. Manchester United. By the way, you'd think a Premier League club (even a recently promoted one) would have at least one spare jersey on hand for each player, even on the road.
My memory is horrible, so please forgive me, but I think ER had blood on his original jersey and had to leave the field to change. Same deal, they didn't have a backup with his number or perhaps any number.
I think the official reason was that the sideline ref allowed him on & not the on-field referee. That game also ended in a rainstorm & the field was a mud-pit.
I think the official reason was, "Because we were paid off to do so." I would have to do some digging but I seem to remember them trying to say that it was because he was not waved on initially but later the match report said it was because of "improper uniform". Most likely it was because there was pretty decent proof of the ref actually waving him on in the video. I also remember a long discussion about Numbers on Jerseys rule being up to individual confederations and not a FIFA rule.
Found what I was looking for in Dispatch from 2010: So it was offside (wait, he was not offside) Then it was because he was not waved on (wait, I waved him on) Oh, then clearly it was because of the blank jersey...
Got to think between Holden (pre-injury), Cameron, Kamara, and Espinoza showing well in England that others will look harder at MLS
I think we're good enough Robert will be retained after the season so I think it may be a moot point. It does seem like he wants to come back to the United States though; based on reported jobs he's interviewed for. I wonder which MLS team will get him; which will subsequently enrage me.