The MLS Disciplinary Committee was very busy on Thursday handing down a few suspensions as well as fining several players undisclosed amounts for several infractions. It’s good to see the committee suspending players and teams for infractions that occurred the previous week. If only some of the fouls were called during the games, it would make the league much better.
Let’s get things started with the suspensions first. There was only one suspension handed down by the committee and San Jose Earthquakes defender Jordan Stewart who was handed the suspension. Stewart was suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount of money after catching Portland Timbers Dairon Asprilla with an elbow in the 45th minute of last Sunday night’s game. There was no fouled called during the game and it was the right decision for the committee to make. It was a play that endangered the safety of the player. It’s a shame it wasn’t called during the game as it happened right in front of the assistant referee.
There were six more fines handed down by the committee. First Houston Dynamo midfielder Leonel Miranda was fined for embellishment in the 89th minutes against the Chicago Fire during last Friday’s match. As you can see in the video here, he was not touched and he should have been punished during the game.
FC Dallas forward Fabian Castillo was also fined an undisclosed amount for embellishment as well. After some nifty footwork just outside the box, Castillo tried to sell a foul inside the box. This happened right in front of referee Baldomero Toledo and he should have shown Castillo a card for it.
The next incident involved two players. First, New York Red Bulls midfielder Felipe Martins was fined for embellishment after he took an accidental hand to the face from Columbus Crew midfielder Federico Higuain. There was a foul called against the Crew and Higuain held his arms out wide in disbelief and Martins ran into his hand. Martins hit the field acting as if he was hit hard in the face. Federico was fined for violating the league’s policy regarding Hands to the Face/Head/Next of an opponent. Take a look here. Not sure if Higuain should have been fouled as it did look a bit like an accident, but it is hard to tell for sure.
Staying in New York, Mehdi Ballouchy of New York City FC was also fined for violating the league’s policy regarding Hands to the Face/Head/Next of an opponent. This one seemed even more innocent compared to the Higuain situation, but one could see that it appears that Ballouchy may have slightly tugged on the hair of Montreal Impact midfielder Marco Donadel. Take a look here.
Lastly, Orlando City SC has been fined for violating the league’s Mass Confrontation Policy in the 45th minute of their 1-1 draw on the road at Real Salt Lake. The confrontation happened after Orlando’s Designated Player Kaka was handed his first ever straight red card for stepping on an RSL player.
As you can see it was a very busy week for the committee and for the most part it appears that they got it correct. If only cards would be handed down during the games for embellishment, it would more than likely stop most players from doing so.
Here is the list of players that have been suspended and cannot play in their teams’ next game.
Here is a list of the players that are one caution away from a suspension or fine.