Newcastle cult hero despatched off for lewd gesture after crotch seize at opponent
Former Newcastle United forward Allan Saint-Maximin was handed a red card after appearing to grab his crotch in the direction of an opponent during Charlotte FC’s win over Orlando City, with VAR intervening late in the match
Allan Saint-Maximin was sent off in a bizarre turn of events in the MLS.(Image: Photo by Matt Kelley/Getty Images)
Former Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin received an extraordinary red card after seemingly making an obscene gesture towards an opposition player. The Frenchman was dismissed late in Charlotte FC’s victory over Orlando City.
The 29-year-old saw red in the dying moments following VAR intervention, with Saint-Maximin appearing to make the lewd gesture at Wilder Cartenga following a confrontation with the Orlando player.
Charlotte were cruising towards an impressive triumph at the time of the incident, holding a commanding 3-0 advantage, with the forward having found the net himself. While initially overlooked during live play, referee Victor Rivas was directed to consult the pitch-side monitor and subsequently brandished a red card to the ex-Magpies star.
Allan Saint-Maximin scored for Charlotte before he was dismissed.
According to International Football Association Board (IFAB) regulations, “using insulting or abusive language or actions” constitutes a sending-off offence.
Saint-Maximin had netted the second goal of the match but later saw a penalty saved. The dismissal had minimal impact on the final outcome, with 19-year-old Rodolfo Aloko putting the icing on the cake in stoppage time.
The sanction facing the former Mag remains unclear, though his sending-off arrives with just one fixture left in the regular campaign before the play-offs commence. Charlotte take on Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and have already secured their spot beyond the regular season, sitting fourth in the standings.
Saint-Maximin has been pivotal to that success, netting twice and laying on four assists across 14 MLS outings since his July switch from Lens.
Victor Rivas sent off Allan Saint-Maximin(Image: Photo by Grant Halverson/MLS via Getty Images)
Following his Newcastle United departure in 2023, the winger has had spells with Al-Ahli, a loan period at Fenerbahce, a stint in Mexico with Club America before heading back to Europe for a 10-match run in France with the Ligue 1 outfit.
Manager Dean Smith heaped praise on Saint-Maximin, and the player has delivered on those expectations thus far. He said: “He’s dynamic, he’s a ball carrier, he’ll take opportunities when they arise to him, and he should give us a good boost.
“He’s just had a really good season in France; he won the French Cup, and now he wants to come here and do well. He wants to leave a legacy, and we want to help him do that.
“I flew back to London and spent a couple of hours with him. I really liked what he was about, and I’m looking forward to what he will bring.
“I’ve spoken to two or three managers who’ve worked with him; they all say the same thing: that he was a really nice person, but also a really good player. He wants to bring his best and lift standards, and that’s what we want within the team.”
