*Update (3:45pm) - FC Dallas released their own statement:

Prior to FC Dallas' match against Orlando City SC, FCD technical director Fernando Clavijo sought clarification from the matchday officials regarding the number of substitutes Dallas would have available during the match after Michael Barrios was removed from the Starting XI. The referee crew's administrative error led to the misinterpretation of MLS rules.

FC Dallas is battling for a playoff spot. Our sole focus is on the final three games left in the regular season and qualifying for the playoffs, starting with our match in Colorado on Saturday.

We won't have any further comment at this time.

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After many days of rumor and speculation, Major League Soccer announced it has decided to fine FC Dallas for a roster violation that occurred during last Saturday's game in Orlando City.

The league's own rules appear to indicate what FCD is guilty of would constitute a forfeiture of said game, but today's announcement reveals the referees and officials actually allowed the substitution. The league press release reads as follows:

"Prior to the match, FC Dallas listed Michael Barrios in the club's starting lineup as part of the official match day roster. The official match day roster is submitted 60 minutes before kickoff. A player who is removed from the official match roster's starting lineup within 60 minutes prior to kickoff may not participate in the match, with the exception of the goalkeeper.

Fifteen minutes prior to kickoff, FC Dallas requested Barrios be moved to the list of substitutes and Tesho Akindele moved from the list of substitutes to the starting lineup. The referee crew incorrectly allowed the change to occur and notified Orlando City SC of the change to the official match day roster prior to the match.

Based on the change to the match day roster, Dallas wrongly believed that Barrios could participate in the match as a substitute. Barrios entered the game in the 84th minute, replacing Maxi Urruti.

'The referee crew's administrative error and decision to place Michael Barrios on the official match roster was carefully considered while making the decision to sanction FC Dallas for this rule violation," said MLS Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott. "However, all of our clubs are aware of game day roster rules and FC Dallas should have removed Barrios from the official match roster.'"

The league also goes out of its way to clarify the commonly misunderstood space of how FIFA rules come into play. "FIFA delegates management of roster rules and sanctions for violations to the respective leagues throughout the world. There is no international rule for changes to a match day roster."

In essence, MLS is admitting the referees made the error, but FC Dallas is being fined for not knowing better, or going ahead with the substitution despite being aware of the rule and taking advantage of the referee's error.

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