How does yellow card accumulation work in the playoffs? I can find the rules for the regular season on the MLS site (5 cards over the course of the season will essentially earn a suspension and a player in peril (4 cards) can get one taken off the total if they go a number of games (4 or 5 perhaps?) with a clean slate. But I can't find any rules listed that specify what the rules are for the playoffs. During the Chivas match in the HDC, both Razov and Thomas (who were each booked in the first game at Rio Tinto) received a yellow and the announcers said that they would be forced to sit out the western final if Chivas advanced. (Presumably either for their second straight playoff game with a yellow, or 2 total throughout the playoffs.) So far RSL has had Beckerman and Williams booked in game 1, and Borchers, Kovalenko, and Mathis booked in game 2. Does this mean they are all in 'yellow peril' for Saturday's match, or is it possible that only those booked in game 2 are in peril this weekend? I'd hate to see some of the players who had strong contributions to get us this far be unavailable for the final should we get past the Red Bulls.
I was wondering the same thing. It would really suck to have a player or two booked in this weeks game and miss the cup final! You would think it would take a red card for that to happen, but knowing MLS that's not the case.
Many times in the World Cup, players have received a booking in the semi-final which leads to a suspension in the final. If anything, hopefully players will avoid being 'suckered' into a hasty retaliation which leads to them missing a final. If the game for instance is a blowout for one of the teams and the losing squad gets frustrated and starts knocking people around, the winning squad needs to keep their temper and not do something silly that they regret later.
for any of our players to be suspended for the final they must have been booked in all three matches leading up to the final or receive a red card in the conference finals. so far beckerman and williams were yellow carded in the first leg, dema, mathis and borchers were booked in the second leg. so if no one receives red on saturday, we will have our full roster available for the final if we win.
Are you sure about this. I was told by an ex mls ref that it used to be 2 yellow in consecutive games and you were suspended. He said it might have changed since he retired in 2002. But if so that would mean we still have 3 players in peril.
I sure hope so. I thought it was two yellows in consecutive games. So, Borchers, mathis, and... Dema? need to avoid yellows. I'd prefer to see no yellows for RSL and no reds. However, I overheard Don Garber saying something to the ref association about NYRB winning no mater what it took. They, MLS, cannot afford for Columbus and RSL to make the MLS Cup.
I would hope that the MLS is smart and realizes that a suspension in such a short playoff/tournament would be a huge thing for a team to recieve. Therefore making it very difficult to achieve a suspension without getting a red (meaning getting a yellow in all of the matches leading to the final) if not, then we have 3 players on caution that are pretty prone to recieving yellows. Dema, Mathis, and Borchers... could be a rough final for RSL if things get chippy on Saturday
The following players will receive a $500 fine (not a suspension) if they get a yellow card in the conference finals:
well that's much better than a suspension! And if it happens, and its a deserved card (not something stupid like complaining) RSL should foot the bill.