Felipe’s Kicker suspended in Open Cup

It was tough seeing Sporting Kansas City celebrate the 2017 US Open Cup Championship in the expense of the New York Red Bulls. Yes the match was played at Children’s Mercy Park and to be fair they were the better side.

But on an early moment of the match you saw something happen where referee Hilario Grajeda never saw the foul being done as all replays caught the deed being done by one of the players from the home side.

Diego Rubio kicked midfielder Felipe on the back of his right leg and got away with not only a foul, but a possible Red Card to send him off and put Sporting Kansas City in a perilous situation.

On Thursday, November 30th the US Open Cup Adjudication and Discipline Panel ruled on a few matters that happened in the 2017 tournament proper as well as the qualifying rounds for the 2018 edition.

Due to the video evidence from the final broadcasted on ESPN 2 they decided to suspend Diego Rubio one match in the 2018 US Open Cup 4th Round Proper for his kick on Felipe’s right leg from behind.

“The Adjudication and Discipline Panel also determined that Sporting Kansas City player Diego Rubio kicked New York Red Bulls player Felipe Martins when the referee’s back was turned during the 2017 U.S. Open Cup Final. The Panel issued a one-game suspension to Rubio.”

Does this mean anything for next seasons US Open Cup run? No because they probably won’t meet unless it’s somewhere down the road in the Semi-Finals or a possible repeat match up in the Final for next year.

But for now it does feel good to know that Diego Rubio will pay the price for his rash foul that Grajeda sadly missed and should’ve sent him off to put Sporting Kansas City down to ten men.