Kayla Fischer of Racing Louisville Sanctioned for Hair Pull
Racing Louisville FC forward Kayla Fischer will have to serve a three-match suspension due to a hair-pulling incident that resulted in a red card last Saturday. This is confirmed by sources close to the team.The NWSL Disciplinary Committee, responsible for reviewing serious misconduct in matches, issued the additional sanction. Both Fischer and Racing Louisville have the right to appeal the decision, although it is unlikely they will do so.
The incident occurred in the 67th minute of the match against Angel City FC, where Fischer was sent off after a video review showed her pulling the hair of midfielder Madison Hammond, bringing her to the ground during a corner kick.
Angel City was awarded a penalty, which Alyssa Thompson converted, reducing Louisville’s lead to 3-2. Despite this, Racing managed to secure an important victory.
The red card carries an automatic suspension for the next match, which, added to the additional sanction, totals three matches of absence for Fischer. Louisville has three matches remaining before the NWSL summer break.
Kayla Fischer was sent off during Racing Louisville’s match against Angel City FC on Saturday.
Katelyn Mulcahy/NWSL via Getty Images
Fischer will not be able to participate in another regular season game until August 1st.Fischer had started in Louisville’s 10 matches this year, accumulating two goals and two assists. In addition, she assisted on Savannah DeMelo’s winning goal on Saturday, 11 minutes before being sent off.I would like to apologize to Madison Hammond and Angel City for my actions over the weekend. It was never my intention to be aggressive while defending a corner, and I sincerely regret my behavior and disappointing my teammates. I accept and understand the league’s decision. When I return to the field this season, I plan to demonstrate that I have learned from my actions and that this moment does not define me as a player nor the respect I have for my opponents and the game.
Kayla Fischer
There are precedents for three-match suspensions for similar incidents. Tyler Lussi and Merritt Mathias were suspended for three matches in 2017 for separate incidents of hair-pulling.
Fischer’s suspension is the second major sanction for a Louisville player in the last month.
Racing Louisville midfielder Ary Borges was suspended for a total of four matches, three additional to her automatic red card suspension, due to an altercation with the referee following the 3-3 draw against Portland Thorns on April 27. The NWSL Disciplinary Committee determined that Borges shoved the referee during the altercation, resulting in “serious misconduct in the game.” Borges will be eligible to return for Louisville’s next match on June 6 against Utah Royals FC.
