Chicago Fire successfully appeal Francisco Calvo’s red card suspension

It wasn’t a red card, after all.

The Chicago Fire have successfully appealed the red card Francisco Calvo received from referee Guido Gonzales in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to the Philadelphia Union.

An independent review panel consisting of one representative from U.S. Soccer, one representative from the Canadian Soccer Association and one representative from the Professional Referee Organization (PRO) unanimously voted to rescind the one-game suspension and accompanying fine Calvo received for the card. This means Calvo will be eligible to play in Saturday’s crucial away match against Nashville SC (7:30 p.m. CT, WGN & ESPN+).

In the 37th minute of the match in Philadelphia, Calvo stepped on the back of Alejandro Bedoya’s ankle. As Bedoya rolled on the ground, Gonzales immediately flashed the straight red to Calvo, and chose not to give the foul a second look through VAR. The Fire played with ten men for an hour, and even tied the match at one point, but they couldn’t hold on. The 2-1 loss cost the team valuable points in the playoff race.

Each club is entitled to two unsuccessful appeals per season, including the MLS Cup Playoffs. Since Chicago’s appeal was successful, the club maintains its two unsuccessful appeals for any future red cards this season.