Herrera's Red Card: Did He Really Spit on the Sounders?
The Seattle Sounders vs. LA Galaxy rivalry is always intense, but things took a wild turn on July 15th when LA Galaxy's Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez was sent off for a nasty tackle on Stefan Frei. Things got even crazier when Seattle's Cristian Roldan was then shown a red card for his reaction to Chicharito's foul.
But the real drama unfolded minutes later when Galaxy midfielder, Sebastian Lletget, was also red-carded after an alleged spitting incident. Now, here's the thing: everyone seems to be on different pages about what exactly happened, and the referee's explanation was... less than clear.
What We Know (Or Think We Know)
The footage shows Lletget and Seattle's Jordan Morris having words on the sidelines. Then, Lletget seems to make a gesture towards Morris' face, with Morris reacting in a clearly upset way.
The question is: Did Lletget spit?
The referee initially called a foul on Lletget for what he called "unsportsmanlike conduct," before upgrading it to a red card. But, no one is really sure if the referee actually saw the spitting, or if he just assumed based on the players' reactions.
The Aftermath
Lletget denied spitting after the game, saying he was just trying to get Morris' attention. The Galaxy have also come out in support of their player, claiming the footage doesn't show any spitting and calling the red card "harsh."
On the other hand, the Sounders have yet to comment officially, leaving fans to speculate and debate on social media. And that's where the real drama is brewing.
The Spitting Incident in Context
Spitting on the pitch is a big no-no, and there are serious repercussions for those who do it. It's considered disrespectful, unsportsmanlike, and even dangerous in some cases.
This situation adds fuel to the already burning fire of the Galaxy-Sounders rivalry, and we're left with a sense of unease and confusion.
Was it a spit? Was it just a gesture? Did the referee get it wrong?
Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: this incident will linger in the minds of fans for a long time to come.