:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45981126/usa-today-8465327.0.jpg)
Unfortunately for the Zach Pfeffer and the Philadelphia Union, the MLS Disciplinary Committee has decided to suspend the 20-year-old midfielder and additional game, meaning he'll not only miss the match this weekend against the Chicago Fire, but next weekend against Sporting Kansas City as well. Pfeffer received a straight red card during Saturday's match for an elbow thrown in FC Dallas midfielder Mauro Diaz’s temple. After the game Pfeffer claimed that he did not intend to elbow Diaz on twitter, saying:
To all @PhilaUnion @MLS fans, I realized the foul looked bad on replay, however I want everyone to know it was absolutely not intentional
— Zachary Pfeffer (@ZachPfeffer_27) March 21, 2015
It was an unfortunate situation where I was just looking to get my body in position to win the ball. With my momentum and a wet pitch, it
— Zachary Pfeffer (@ZachPfeffer_27) March 21, 2015
made the incident seem worse than it was. Again, no intention what so ever! Will move on from here!
— Zachary Pfeffer (@ZachPfeffer_27) March 21, 2015
Referee Jose Carlos Rivero didn't seen his elbow as an accident, but rather decided it was an intentional foul and sent Pfeffer off in the 42nd minute. According to the MLS website the extra game was due to the fact Pfeffer failed to leave the field in a timely manner upon being ejected, not for the intentional elbow.