Jozy Altidore and Sacha Kljestan will serve their suspensions, as their red card appeals following a contentious Eastern Conference Semifinal second leg have been rejected.
The Independent Panel, consisting of one representative each from the United States Soccer Federation, Canadian Soccer Association and Professional Referees Organization, on Thursday announced it had rejected appeals of the ejections that Toronto FC's Altidore and the New York Red Bulls' Kljestan received at halftime of their November 5 game for violent conduct during a confrontation between the two teams.
Altidore will serve his one-game suspension in the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Championship first leg on November 21, when Toronto will travel to face Columbus Crew SC (8 pm ET | ESPN, ESPN Deportes; TSN, TVAS). Kljestan will serve his one-game suspension in his first match of the 2018 MLS regular season.
Each club is entitled to two unsuccessful appeals per season, including playoffs. Toronto FC has one unsuccessful appeal remaining for the 2017 season.
