Jordy Delem suspended for upcoming game against Chicago Fire

The Seattle Sounders right back situation just got a lot more interesting. MLS has decided to suspend Jordy Delem for their upcoming match against the Chicago Fire due to a case of mistake identity.

In the 46th minute of the match against Toronto FC, referee Jair Marrufo issued Osvaldo Alonso a yellow card for unsporting behavior after Jozy Altidore was taken out at the top of the box. Replays clearly showed that Delem was the one that committed the foul on Altidore. Delem, who was already sitting on a yellow that he probably should have never received, was let off the hook when Marrufo showed Alonso the card. Frustratingly, Delem’s first card wouldn’t have been reviewable as it was yellow cards fall outside of the review board’s purview. Here’s that first yellow:

The yellow card has been removed from Alonso and since this would have been Delem’s second of the game, MLS has suspended him and issued an undisclosed fine.

All season long, the right back position has been the most uncertain. Gustav Svensson, Oniel Fisher and Delem have all started there and Cristian Roldan has moved there late in several games. The two most likely candidates to occupy the right side will be Svensson and Brad Evans, who was the expected starter at the beginning of the year but has not played due to injury.

Fisher is also a candidate as head coach Brian Schmetzer revealed he will travel with the team. Fisher hasn’t played since the Vancouver Whitecaps match on April 14 as he has been dealing with a hamstring issue.

Given that neither Fisher nor Evans have played in recent weeks, the back four will likely be Joevin Jones, Chad Marshall, Roman Torres and Svensson. Evans seems a like candidate to sub in sometime in the second half for his first minutes of the season.