Home
FC Dallas has been in a free fall in recent months. The club has won just once since a 2-1 win over Montreal on July 22 saw FC Dallas briefly move to the top of the Western Conference, a span of 12 matches that included more than bad losses. It could get even worse after an apparent illegal substitution late in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Orlando City.
Major League Soccer is reviewing the incident, according to the Orlando Sentinel, and FC Dallas could be forced to forfeit the match, losing a point in the standings and giving Orlando City two additional points.
The issue surrounds FC Dallas midfielder Michael Barrios, who was in the official starting lineup announced prior to the match in Orlando. Not long before kickoff, Barrios was replaced with Tesho Akindele for an apparent foot injury.
Late lineup change for FCD. Tesho Akindele will start in place of Michael Barrios. #ORLvFCD
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) September 30, 2017
Michael Barrios has a mild foot injury. He is available to come off the bench for FC Dallas. https://t.co/ojK4GjmghR
— Gina Miller (@TheGinaMiller) September 30, 2017
This is all well within FIFA rules. A player can be taken out of the starting lineup for injury or illness and replaced with a player from the substitutes list. However, the player originally in the starting lineup is then ineligible to play in the match.
But that’s exactly what happened in the 84th minute.
83' - Substitution
Michael Barrios IN
Maxi Urruti OUT #ORLvFCD | ORL- 0, FCD- 0— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) September 30, 2017
The match ended in a scoreless draw, giving both teams a vital point in their respective pushes for a playoff spot. However, if MLS decides Dallas must forfeit, both teams make dramatic shifts in the standings.
Per FIFA rules, the match should be forfeited, which would drop FCD to 41 pts and pull Orlando City to 41 pts, just 2 behind RBNY (4/5)
— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) October 2, 2017
Orlando City would jump ahead of three teams, up from 10th place to seventh place, were they to be awarded the victory. The Lions are currently in a four-way tie on 39 points behind New York Red Bulls, who with 43 points and a game in hand have the best shot at the final playoff spot in the East. With the two extra points, Orlando City would only be two points out with two matches to play (three for NYRB), a big advantage over Montreal, New England and Philadelphia.
FC Dallas would remain in eighth place, but instead of being on 42 points alongside Real Salt Lake and San Jose, they would be on 41 points, though they have a game in hand over those two. It’s all up in the air in the Western Conference, which is extremely tight — only Vancouver has clinched a playoff spot compared to the East where the top five have already clinched their berths.
Every point is vital for both FC Dallas and Orlando City with only a few matches left for every team. How MLS rules on this FC Dallas lineup change will go a long way in deciding who ends up in the postseason.
The18 Recommends For You
