MLS Suspends Clint Dempsey For Three Games
By Sean Maslin
Since he tore up a referee’s book, Clint Dempsey might as well tear up a few paychecks. On Friday, Major League Soccer announced Dempsey will be suspended for the Seattle Sounders next three regular season matches.
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The suspension is the result of Dempsey’s actions in last Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup match between the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers. Down 2-1 in the 113th minute, head referee Daniel Radford issued a red card to Sounders midfielder Michael Azira after his strong challenge on Timbers forward Gaston Fernandez. Dempsey, not happy with the call, then proceeded to take Radford’s book and threw it to the ground. After being issued a yellow card for dissent, Dempsey picked up the referee’s book off of the ground and proceeded to tear it up.
In a statement released to the press, MLS Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott said,“We do not tolerate conduct of this nature from any of our players. ” “No matter how passionate our players are or what happens in the ‘heat of the moment,’ they must always respect all aspects of the game, especially the referees. In light of Clint’s actions and our past precedents, we felt that a significant suspension was appropriate.”
Dempsey has yet to speak publicly about the incident. He will miss Seattle’s upcoming games against the San Jose Earthquakes (June 20th,) the Philadelphia Union (June 24th) and the Timbers (June 28th).
Without Dempsey and Azira as well as Brad Evans( who was red carded earlier in the match)and Obafemi Martins (who was injured) Seattle was forced to play with seven men for the remainder of the match. Portland would go on to eliminate Seattle from Open Cup competition by the score of 3-1.
The interesting part of the Dempsey suspension that was announced today was that he will only be suspended for MLS regular season matches and future U.S. Open Cup matches. There was some fear that because the match occurred under the jurisdiction of U.S. Soccer and not MLS that Dempsey could be suspended for the Gold Cup. But it was announced by the U.S. Open Cup Adjudication and Disciplinary Panel that at their hearing next week that any suspension levied would only be for U.S. Open Cup matches and not for U.S. Men’s National Team matches.
After what was a very ugly situation, Seattle and Dempsey should feel a sign of relief. Whether or not Dempsey was right to voice his frustration is debatable. But what is without question is that his choice to directly engage with Radford in such a manner put his team and himself in a bad position. MLS and US Soccer could have thrown the book at Dempsey and the Sounders. But they chose not to. Dempsey and the Sounders should be happy with this result. He will not miss many matches and it will give him ample time to rest for the Gold Cup.