Forge’s Poku Appeal Denied By CSDC

Forge youngster Kwasi Poku’s red card was the only mar in an otherwise superb performance away to Vancouver FC over the Labour Day long weekend.

With the club three-nil up following a hat trick from Woobens Pacius, Poku took a bad touch and fouled TJ Tahid in an effort to recover, coming in late on the ankle and receiving immediate marching orders from Alain Ruch.

Forge had sent in an appeal to the Canada Soccer Disciplinary Committee under a claim of clearly excessive punishment. With the club having already played a rivalry tilt against Cavalry, hopes of reducing his two-match ban were stifled when the CSDC rejected the claim last night.

As a result, Kwasi will serve the remainder of his two-match standard ban for serious foul pay and must pay the unspecified monetary fine accompanying his red card. That means he’ll miss Sunday’s away bout against Valour FC, who recently bested York United in a match where red cards also became a touchy subject.

The 20-year-old has been a Forge regular this season, appearing in eighteen league matches before the first sending-off of his career.

Having trialed with Allsvenskan title contenders BK Hacken ahead of the 2023 CPL season, many had had thought that the Canadian youth international might be bound for Europe within the calendar year. Instead, he’s stuck around in an effort to help Forge fight for another league title – it would be his second, and their fourth.

Forge FC will trek to Winnipeg without Poku this weekend, where a win could take them within one point of the top.

Header Image Photo Credit: James Glezos