New York Red Bulls midfielder Rafa Marquez always figured to face some sort of suspension for his actions in last weekend's match against the San Jose Earthquakes. On Thursday, Marquez and the Red Bulls found out just how stiff a punishment he will face.
MLS announced on Thursday that Marquez will be suspended for three matches after injuring San Jose midfielder Shea Salinas with a bearhug and slam that resulted in Salinas suffering a broken collarbone.
Marquez was also issued an undisclosed fine for his actions. He wasn't the only player suspended by MLS on Thursday. San Jose midfielder Marvin Chavez was issued a one-game suspension for a reckless tackle on Roy Miller.
The suspension means Marquez will miss the Red Bulls' upcoming matches against Eastern Conference rivals D.C. United and New England, as well as a high-profile road trip to the take on the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The suspension is just the latest in Marquez's checkered tenure in MLS. He was suspended for the start of the 2012 season and the Red Bulls' final playoff game in 2011 for his role in a skirmish with the LA Galaxy. Prior to that, Marquez was suspended by the Red Bulls for making critical comments of teammate Tim Ream to the media.
Here is the play Marquez was suspended for in case you had yet to see it, or if you just want to watch it again:
What do you think of the punishment? Think it's fair or do you feel Marquez deserved an even longer suspension?
Share your thoughts below.
only 3 games, perfect…. “Bearhug” cmon yea he grabbed him but it wasnt all that. the kick to the face should of got him the 3games not bc he fell on top of him. hit the weight room Shea and grow some, learn how to defend yourself.
Marquez is a thug who needs to finish his career in the Mexican league, im sure theres tons of clubs there that would have him.
People are WAAAAAY overblowing this.
Having finally seen the video, I have to say that the suspension’s gotta be for the kick alone. The contact was nothing more than a PK-worthy foul and possible yellow card.
It’s unfortunate that Salinas was injured, but that’s a pretty weak “tackle” in my opinion.
Disagree with the length of the suspension but I am biased as I really can’t stand that guy. He is in over his head in the MLS. He can’t keep up and his own frustrations are getting the better of him. He has always been classless and now he has no skills left and his actions are acts of desperation. Really think that this will be close to the last we hear of him.
Now the real question is what does the MLS do about that poor excuse of an official? He too is in way over his head. I am a Quakes fan and i think we kind of got away with murder too. So I am not saying it was only one way out there. Bernardez escaped a red cardable offense, Chavez probably should have been shown a red straight off. No doubt Rafa could have been called for a penalty and sent off right away.
We have 3 sets of eyes plus a fourth on the sideline and no one sees anything. Watch the replay, the center official is looking right at the whole thing. If his reports says he didn’t see it. Well, then it is obvious that they need to get some referees that can see things actually happening right in front of them and realize that their job is to actually see and call the infraction. That is why they are the only one’s that get a whistle! They are really good with the little shaving cream lines at 10 yards though. So, I don’t want to seem overly harsh.
For all those who say well that stuff goes on on every set piece. Well that too is load of *&^(). No where in the rules does it state that all rules go out the window on set pieces.
We want games to open up? We want more scoring? Call penalties when they occur. When goals are scored games open up and possibly lead to even more goals.
I think the Mullen comparison is not correct.
Mullen was ticked and slid into Zakuani on purpose.
Marquez deserved a penalty kick for his foul. I don’t think he was trying to hurt anyone, or in Mullen’s case trying to show the ref what a foul is.
Should he have dragged his foot, kicked his foot ?
NO, and he got ( and deserved ) three games.
Once again MLS protects its cash cows. Salazar’s failure to sufficiently deal with any of the ugly play was disappointing, but hardly shocking, given the poor level of officiating in MLS. Justice will be someone subjecting Henry to the type of challenge he made on Wondo, snapping his leg, and the league losing him for the season.
Realist – the reasons Shea “went down awkwardly” is because Marquez was holding his arms. Salinas had no way to brace for the fall. Marquez was literally on top of him.
And just because something “happens all the time” doesn’t mean its legal. Marquez broke Salinas’ collar bone by violating the rules of the game.
And for a bonus, he kicked him in the head afterwards.
This kind of behavior does not happen all the time. And it shouldn’t be condoned.
Mullan – 10 games for his horrible tackle on Zakuani
Clark – 9 games for kicking Ruiz
Sala – 6 games for punching Freeman and Kirovski
Marquez – 3 games for breaking Salinas’s collarbone on an American football tackle and added kick.
Chavez – 1 game for a two footed studs up from behind clear intention to injure a guy bearing down on goal foul that also caused injury
WTF?!?!?! Yeah, there’s no favoritism going on for an NY DP or anything if Chavez only got one.
FYP.
4 games actually. And Ferreira did play this season only to get injured again.
Last year the guy who broke Ferreira’s ankle with a no chance tackle from behind in the boz also only got 3 games, and Ferreira’s still not back.
Then I would kick Landon in the face!
The majority of the comments on this page are way too dramatic.
First of all, this is hardly an “American football tackle.” Yes, Rafa puts his arms around Salinas but this happens all the time on corner kicks.
Plus, Rafa doesn’t force him to the ground; in fact, I think Salinas goes down looking for the penalty (which should’ve been given). But it’s not like the force of Rafa’s bear hug broke Salinas’ collar bone. Salinas went down awkwardly and if you think differently then I suggest you watch the video again.
That being said, the follow through kick by Rafa was dirty, but I’ve seen a lot worse. It wasn’t like Rafa went cleats up on Salinas or stepped on him a la Pepe on Messi’s hand in the January Clasico (which, by the way, Pepe did not receive any suspension).
If you’re going to cry about how dirty this tackle was and how there should be lawsuits and suspensions until Salinas’ collar bone heals – then you don’t understand the game of soccer and I suggest you find a new sport.
The game is meant to be physical and tough. Sometimes players commit infractions and sometimes they go too far. Rafa definitely went too far but let’s keep some perspective.
I feel bad that Salinas broke his collar bone but a 3 game suspension is more than enough for this offense.
Since the league won’t do it, someone on the pitch needs to take out Rafa.
There’s a double standard in the league for sure. How does Henry get whistled on a studs-up challenge but no yellow card?
Well, then you’re a bigger POS than Marquez and automatically elegible for the Mexican National Team.
I would have kicked Salinas twice and knocked over the stretcher for diving.
And it was just unlucky tripping earlier in the match when Rafa rode a SJ player (may have been Salinas also) down on a corner the same way?
Man, that’s some unlucky tripping by the SJ players, the league should look into that.
That’s what the kick in the face suggests to you???? Amazing.
He’s been shockingly bad, first just as a center defender, even more so since he’s a high-profile, highly paid player. They might be better off without him. Hey, maybe play one of those youth players from the academy that NYRB has touted, instead of all the foreigners they’ve signed for those spots.
The Red Bulls’ best strategy is for their forwards and mids to keep as much possession as they can. With a rookie keeper (who’s been good) and a decimated defense, you wouldn’t want them to have too much to do.
Well reasoned. My initial reaction was at least 5 games; but upon review, the only thing REALLY wrong was the Dbag kick at the end. Horrible marking like that happens all the time in MLS, and Shea just happened to fall. 3 games for the kick sounds about right.
“… it’s hard to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt…”
That is not the standard of evidence in sports.
It’s done, move on.
He’s going to hurt someone before they get rid of him… oh, wait. He did.
Get rid of him now. Not enough.
As a DC United fan, I think it’s unfair that Rafa has to miss the match on Sunday. His absence makes the Reed Bulls stronger.
I assume that since he was falling (and therefore, so was his leg), it’s hard to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt the amount to which he was intentionally trying to hurt Salinas.
(This coming from someone who thinks he should have gotten more games)
It wasn’t much of a kick. I’m not sure you can say it was to the Salinas’ face, and it’s hard to even say he connected.
yea, i agree, except that marquez really does kick him square in the dome on the way down. you could fall down all day, your leg doesn’t whip that direction
3 games for the kick. The collarbone injury was freakish, caused by the awkward way the two guys fell, which was never what Rafa tried to do.
RB supporter here – the hype on this is huge!
This was hardly a American football/rugby style tackle. If it was its weaker than what you see during any schoolyard football game or 100x during any rugby match.
That being said – yes its a foul – easily a PK at least a yellow.
The kick on the other hand is intentional and dirty from a player with a history of dirty shots. Surprised the suspension wasn’t more- at least 5 games or even higher.
I am very sorry Salinas got his collarbone broken.
Yes — and I imagine that’s why he got the suspension. The injury was a freakish result from the kind of in-the-box clutching and pushing that goes on during every kick.
As I wrote before, I doubt Rafa meant to take Salinas down. In fact, the kick suggests that Rafa was pissed at Salinas for going down, probably thinking that Shea was angling for a PK call.
Based on video tape and the NYRB announcer comments, I believe Rafa needs some medical help also. I along with Shep didn’t understand what he was doing and why he was doing it. It doesn’t happen all the time, and Shep suggested and I agree that he is disturbed.
To call Rafa’s grabbing and fall with Salinas an NFL style tackle is a gross exaggeration.
He should be suspended for the kick, and if you wanted to make it longer than three games I wouldn’t have a problem with it, though I’d disagree. Yohan Cabaye of Newcastle was suspended 3 matches for a very similar kick against a Brighton player in their FA cup match.
This guy is useless and Red Bull should get rid of him. He can’t run, can’t defend, can’t execute on set pieces, throws his teammates under the bus, and when he’s not injured or suspended he’s playing WAY below his salary. Not sure how much of his salary Red Bull would have to eat to get rid of him, but at this point it would be addition by subtraction.
I don’t like Marquez either BUT… this did not deserve a suspension. wrestling in the box happens all the time. he was just unlucky that his mark tripped, he fell on top, collarbone broken.
i guess it’s karma then…
It was an intentional kick to/near the face of a player on the ground that could not protect them selves. The ball was no where near the play. How is that not a 10 game suspension?
Exactly… when you need the extra push… over the cliff… these go to eleven.
He should be suspended for as long as Salinas is out. Punishment should equal the crime, this is a disgrace…
3 games? 2 games? ours go to 11.
Speaking of favoritism for NY DP’s… How does Chavez get one game suspension and Henry does not for his studs up tackle on Wondo? Chavez was deserved but I think Henry was just as bad. I wish MLS could discipline the refs for so many missed calls that led to player injuries.
MLS is a disgrace… 3 games for breaking Salinas’s collarbone??? What the heck! I guess Chavez should have broken Miller’s leg b/c he only would’ve gotten banned 2 more games.
it’s not too different how they’re handling the suspensions in NHL… the “star” players are treated with kid gloves. This clown should have been gone for at least 5 games…
Typical conduct from Marquez. When are they going to realize the cost far outweighs the benefit?
i’m way more bothered by the kick in the face once he’s down. that crossed the line from mere thuggery to class-less
Too bad Shea is such a christian. A civil lawsuit for aggravated assault is in order.
Mullan – 10 games for his horrible tackle on Zakuani
Clark – 9 games for kicking Ruiz
Sala – 6 games for punching Freeman and Kirovski
Marquez – 3 games for breaking Salinas’s collarbone on an American football tackle and added kick.
WTF?!?!?! Yeah, there’s no favoritism going on for an NY DP or anything. What a joke. so much for all that tough talk from the Disciplinary Committee over the last year.
Chavez should have also gotten a 3 game suspension! I am glad Marquez is out… The Red Bulls play better without him…
I wish they would have suspended him for the whole year just so he would go away. What a disaster. His play on the field doesn’t justify his bullsh*t on and off it.
What a joke. Way to be harsh on violent play and repeat offenders, MLS.
I thought for sure it would be at least 5 games as well…
Wow. I always guess low on MLS suspensions, and I was sure this was a 5 gamer.