A red card penalty that took 22-year-old Rocco Romeo out of his pro soccer team鈥檚 home opener in 91原创 last Sunday, will also keep him out of the next two games, much to the surprise and disappointment of Vancouver Football Club鈥檚 (VFC) head coach Afshin Ghotbi.

Romeo, a central defenceman for the Canadian Premier League鈥檚 newest team, was ejected early in the first ever-home game at Willoughby Stadium. The coach confirmed Friday that Romeo will also be out for the next two games 鈥� including tonight鈥檚 matchup against Atl茅tico Ottawa.

In last weekend鈥檚 game, Romeo banged heads with Calgary Cavalry FC striker Myer Bevan, sending both players to the ground. Romeo was subsequently ousted from the game for what referees called violent contact. Despite playing the rest of the game with only 10 on the field, VFC emerged with another point in a 1-1 tie.

鈥淰ancouver FC, the Canadian Premier League (CPL), and the lead referee auditor have all confirmed that this was not a warranted red card or subsequent suspension,鈥� VFC said in a formal statement issued this week, noting they went through the appropriate appeal process through the Canada Soccer Association鈥檚 disciplinary committee 鈥� to no avail.

鈥淧ersonally, I was very close to the action and obviously I saw the game many times. And, I saw that scene many times. I think the head of referees in Canada also agrees it was a red card that should not have been given,鈥� Ghotbi said a day ahead of their next game 鈥� VFC鈥檚 second at home.

鈥淲hat I鈥檓 really surprised about is the decision that was made to suspend him two more games,鈥� added the coach.

While he鈥檚 confident the team has 鈥渆nough depth and quality to manage the game鈥� without Romeo, he had hoped for a better outcome.

鈥淩occo is a great professional. He鈥檚 a fantastic player, maybe one of the best central defenders in the league 鈥� the Canadian one. And, it鈥檚 going to be a big loss for us,鈥� Ghotbi said, defending the player鈥檚 character and expressing concern about the mental ramifications of the red card and multi-game suspension on the young Toronto native.

Ghotbi described Romeo as one of the most 鈥減romising鈥� elegant and classy鈥� central defenders he鈥檚 ever coached, having worked for him the past five months.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 even think he would harm an ant. I mean this guy is so honest and so wonderful.鈥�

In fact, given his play so far this season, the coach felt Romeo was a strong prospect to play on the Canadian national team.

RELATED: Vancouver FC signs centre back Rocco Romeo

鈥淚t鈥檚 a big psychological blow for him, and I feel really sorry for him because I don鈥檛 feel he deserved the red card or the suspension,鈥� Ghotbi elaborated.

鈥淥f course, the team will recover, but for a young player who went in to a duel just to win a ball and was shown a very harsh red card and suspended for another two games, I鈥檓 not sure if it was the right decision for him, for the league, for Canadian football.鈥�

Despite this set back, Ghotbi said he and the team are excited to be playing another match on their home pitch tonight, (Saturday, May 13) at 7:30 p.m. They鈥檙e going up against Ottawa, a team that鈥檚 in the cellar in the CPL rankings and has lost its last three games.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a team that can play good football at the right moment,鈥� Ghotbi said of their opponents, noting his team is still expecting a tough game.

鈥淲e have to bring speed to the game. We have to bring tempo to the game. We have to play on our front feet. We have to be dangerous. We have to be proactive,鈥� he said, noting heat could also be a factor with forecasts calling for 34-degrees Celsius.

While he鈥檚 hoping to put some points on the board early in the game, he said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a chess match鈥� we have to be very good at carving a space for ourselves in the final third鈥� and putting strikers into scoring position鈥� We respect all opponents, but we fear none.鈥�

After today鈥檚 game, VFC has the week to practise at home before heading to Hamilton, Ont. to take on the Forge FC next Friday, May 19.

.