Miami forward Diego Serna, who received a controversial red card after an air battle with San JoseÆs Zak Ibsen in Game 2 of their semifinal series, has been ruled eligible for Game 3 on Wednesday. MLSÆs statement on the ruling follows: ôThe MLS Disciplinary Committee has received a request from the Miami Fusion that it review the issuance of a red card to Diego Serna in the game between the Fusion and the San Jose Earthquakes that took place in San Jose on Sunday, October 14, 2001. ôIt has been the clear, consistent and publicly stated position of the MLS Disciplinary Committee that it will not review the exercise of judgment by an official in making a decision on the field. Only the most extraordinary circumstances, such as mistaken identity, would warrant the overturning of an automatic suspension incurred as a result of the issuance of a card. ôIn this instance, interviews with the officials have established the following facts: ô1. Diego Serna and Zak Ibsen challenged for the ball. ô2. The referee issued a red card to Ibsen based upon his own judgment. ô3. The referee consulted with the fourth official. ô4. The fourth official indicated that Serna should receive a card, meaning a yellow card. ô5. The referee interpreted this as meaning a red card, and on the perceived advice of the fourth official issued a red card to Serna. ô6. The fourth official, believing that the referee had exercised his own judgment in issuing a red card to Serna, did not dispute the issuance of the red card. ô7. The referee has since confirmed that he did not exercise any independent judgment on the issue of Serna’s card, but relied upon what he understood the fourth official to have told him. ôThese facts have only come to light today. ôIn all the circumstances, therefore, it is clear from the officials’ accounts that the judgment of the officials on the field (the referee as advised by the fourth official) was that Serna should receive a yellow, not a red, card. A miscommunication occurred which resulted in the issuance of a red card. ôThe MLS Disciplinary Committee has concluded in these extraordinary circumstances that, while nothing can be done with respect to last Sunday’s game, Diego Serna should not serve a suspension for the next game. The MLS Disciplinary Committee has concluded such an error in communication is more akin to an error in identification than to an error in judgment by the officials and therefore warrants extraordinary action. ôIn taking this action, the MLS Disciplinary Committee is adhering to the principle of upholding the officials’ judgment on the field. To enforce a suspension in these circumstances would be to substitute an arbitrary consequence for the judgment of the officials on the field by reason of an error in communication between them. That would be wrong. ôDiego Serna will be assessed a yellow card carrying four disciplinary penalty points in respect of the incident. ôDiego Serna’s suspension for the third series game between the Miami Fusion and the San Jose Earthquakes is therefore lifted and he is eligible to play for Miami on Wednesday, Oct. 17.ö