When a professional footballer is asked to describe their worst nightmare, the response of "having my own fans chant 'asshole' at me" would probably be considered a totally irrational fear. But that's exactly what happened to New York Red Bulls midfielder Dru Yearwood on Saturday night at Red Bull Arena while getting sent off in his team's 2-0 defeat to Philadelphia.
It's always a fiercely contested match when these two Eastern Conference rivals collide, and last night was no different with the Union chasing both top spot in the conference and the Supporters' Shield while New York entered wanting to solidify a first round home game in the playoffs.
Philly frustrated New York with 17 fouls, four yellow cards and, most importantly, goals from Mikael Uhre and Dániel Gazdag in a 2-0 win for the away side.
It was too much for Yearwood, who, when whistled for a foul in the fourth-minute of stoppage time, blistered an effort into fans seated in the first couple rows on the sideline. The kick left a couple young children traumatized while violently striking another girl in the face.
Yearwood went into the stands to apologize, but he was turned back by spectators who wanted nothing to do with him.
Dru Yearwood was sent off after he kicked a ball in the stands and injured a couple of fans. He was turned away from consoling them after he jumped into the stands. pic.twitter.com/NC0kf7eesk
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 4, 2022
Yearwood's yellow card was upgraded to a red, and the Red Bulls immediately released an official statement following the match.
Official Statement from New York Red Bulls and Dru Yearwood pic.twitter.com/tgBz4LQcw3
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) September 4, 2022
