Allan Saint-Maximin sent off for obscene gesture in Charlotte FC victory
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The 29-year-old received a straight red card in the closing stages after appearing to make an obscene gesture towards an opposing player during a confrontation.
Despite Charlotte comfortably leading, the incident prompted a VAR review that ultimately brought Saint-Maximin's eventful afternoon to an abrupt end.
The Frenchman had already scored, missed a penalty and played a significant role in Charlotte's dominant performance before being dismissed.
VAR review leads to Saint-Maximin's red card
Saint-Maximin's dismissal came in the 89th minute, with Charlotte holding a commanding 3-0 advantage at Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, 31 October.Following a confrontation involving opposing players, the winger appeared to grab his crotch and make an offensive gesture towards an Orlando City opponent.
The incident was initially missed during the live action. However, VAR intervened, prompting referee Victor Rivas to review the situation before upgrading the disciplinary decision to a red card.
Under Law 12 of the International Football Association Board's (IFAB) Laws of the Game, using offensive, insulting or abusive language or actions is a sending-off offence.
The decision meant Saint-Maximin had to leave the field despite Charlotte being firmly in control of the match.
Allan Saint-Maximin receives a red card for grabbing his crotch at an opponent https://t.co/Y3AgGcSNwu
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) October 31, 2026
Saint-Maximin scores before missing a penalty
Saint-Maximin had initially enjoyed an impressive afternoon in front of goal.After Henry Kessler gave Charlotte the lead in the sixth minute, the former Newcastle forward doubled their advantage shortly after the interval.
In the 49th minute, he collected a pass from Harry Toffolo, drove towards the penalty area and finished past Orlando goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau to make it 2-0.
His afternoon could have become even more productive when Charlotte were awarded a penalty in the 84th minute.
Saint-Maximin stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Crépeau produced a save to deny him a second goal.
However, Abdoulaye Doucouré reacted quickest to the rebound and converted from close range to extend Charlotte's lead to 3-0.
The match was not finished there. Rodolfo Aloko added a fourth goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time, completing a commanding victory for the hosts.
Could Saint-Maximin miss Charlotte FC's MLS play-offs?
Whilst Charlotte secured all three points, Saint-Maximin's dismissal could have consequences beyond the final whistle.The club have already booked their place in the MLS play-offs and are preparing for their final regular-season fixture against Lionel Messi's Inter Miami on 7 November.
The length of Saint-Maximin's suspension has yet to be confirmed, leaving uncertainty over his availability for the post-season.
His absence would represent a potential setback for Charlotte, considering his contribution since arriving from French side Lens in July.
The winger has recorded two goals and four assists in 14 MLS appearances, establishing himself as an important attacking option.
After leaving Newcastle in 2023, Saint-Maximin experienced spells with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli, Turkish club Fenerbahçe and Mexican outfit Club América before returning to France with Lens.
His move to MLS appeared to offer a fresh opportunity to revive his career, but the extraordinary dismissal against Orlando City has now created an unwanted distraction at a crucial stage of Charlotte's campaign.
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