CMISL boss explains Paszkowski red-card ruling

Arthur Paszkowski was a key part of Calgary United’s Canadian Major Indoor Soccer League-deciding win over the Edmonton Drillers Saturday, even though he was red-carded the last time he played in a league game. Paszkowski scored two of Calgary’s first five goals en route to a 9-3 romp of the Drillers. But, two weeks previous, Paszkowski was sent off in an ill-tempered 10-7 win over Edmonton for arguing calls while sitting on the bench. Paszkowski was handed a two-game suspension for the card. But, because the Kitsap Pumas forfeited a doubleheader by not making the trip to Calgary in between the two United-Drillers clashes, CMISL president Mel Kowalchuk had a decision to make — do forfeits constitute as games served? The answer was yes, and Paszkowski — one of Calgary’s top offensive threats — was cleared to play in the season finale. “I had to rule on it, so he actually served his suspension through the forfeited games,” said Kowalchuk. “We did permit him to play. He got lucky.” Calgary United is off to the PASL-Pro Championship Weekend in Cincinnati.