Former Newcastle United forward Allan Saint-Maximin was sent off for appearing to grab his crotch in the direction of an opponent during Charlotte FC's win over Orlando City. The 29-year-old Frenchman received his marching orders late in the game following a video assistant referee intervention.
Incident and Dismissal
The red card came in the closing stages after Saint-Maximin appeared to make the gesture towards Wilder Cartenga following an exchange with the Orlando player. Although the incident was missed during initial play, referee Victor Rivas was instructed to view the pitch-side monitor and showed the former Magpies star a red card.
Under the laws of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), "using insulting or abusive language or actions" is deemed a red card offence.
Match Impact
Charlotte were heading towards an impressive win at the time of the incident after taking a 3-0 lead, with the forward on target. Saint-Maximin scored the second of the game but saw a spot-kick saved late on. The red card did not have much bearing on the final result, with 19-year-old Rodolfo Aloko adding gloss to the result late on.
The punishment for the former Mag is unconfirmed, but his dismissal comes with just one game remaining in the regular season before the playoffs begin. Charlotte face Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and have already qualified beyond the normal season as they sit fourth in the table.
Saint-Maximin's Season
Saint-Maximin has been integral to that run, scoring two goals and providing four assists in 14 appearances in the MLS after arriving from Lens in July. Since leaving Newcastle United in 2023, he has played for Al-Ahli, had a spell on loan with Fenerbahce, a stint in Mexico with Club America before returning to Europe for a 10-game spell in France with the Ligue 1 side.
Saint-Maximin received glowing praise from manager Dean Smith, who said: "He's dynamic, he's a ball carrier, he'll take opportunities when they arise to him, and he should give us a good boost. He's just had a really good season in France; he won the French Cup, and now he wants to come here and do well. He wants to leave a legacy, and we want to help him do that."
Smith added: "I flew back to London and spent a couple of hours with him. I really liked what he was about, and I'm looking forward to what he will bring. I've spoken to two or three managers who've worked with him; they all say the same thing: that he was a really nice person, but also a really good player. He wants to bring his best and lift standards, and that's what we want within the team."
