Former Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin was sent off in bizarre fashion after appearing to make an obscene gesture towards an opponent during Charlotte FC's victory over Orlando City in Major League Soccer.
The 29-year-old Frenchman received a red card in the dying moments of the match following a VAR intervention, with Saint-Maximin seemingly directing the lewd gesture at Wilder Cartenga after a confrontation with the Orlando player.
VAR Intervenes After Late Incident
Charlotte were cruising to a commanding 3-0 lead at the time of the incident, with Saint-Maximin having already found the net himself. Although the incident was initially overlooked during live play, referee Victor Rivas was directed to consult the pitch-side monitor and subsequently brandished a red card to the former Newcastle star.
According to International Football Association Board (IFAB) regulations, "using insulting or abusive language or actions" constitutes a sending-off offence.
Saint-Maximin's Impact and Dismissal
Saint-Maximin had scored the second goal of the match but later saw a penalty saved. The dismissal had minimal impact on the final outcome, with 19-year-old Rodolfo Aloko adding a third goal in stoppage time.
The sanction facing the former Magpies player remains unclear, though his sending-off comes with just one fixture left in the regular campaign before the play-offs commence. Charlotte take on Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and have already secured their spot beyond the regular season, sitting fourth in the standings.
Season So Far and Manager's Praise
Saint-Maximin has been pivotal to that success, netting twice and laying on four assists across 14 MLS outings since his July switch from Lens.
Following his Newcastle United departure in 2023, the winger has had spells with Al-Ahli, a loan period at Fenerbahce, a stint in Mexico with Club America before heading back to Europe for a 10-match run in France with the Ligue 1 outfit.
Manager Dean Smith had heaped praise on Saint-Maximin, and the player has delivered on those expectations thus far. He 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."
"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."
