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Andrade suspended for punching Wambach

WambachLady(Getty)

When Colombia’s Lady Andrade punched U.S. Women's national team forward Abby Wambach during the 39th minute of Saturday’s Olympic game, the referee didn’t notice. Andrade could have received a red card, but went unpunished and played the entire game, which the USA went on to win.

Andrade wasn’t so lucky on Monday, when FIFA handed down a two-game suspension for what Wambach called a “sucker-punch.” While the USA didn’t file a formal complaint, they did contact FIFA, leading to the review and punishment.

This means that Andrade will be suspended for Colombia’s final Group G match against France, and the quarterfinals should they advance—which will be tough, as they currently sit at the bottom of the group with no points.

Andrade claims the incident was “an accident.”

What do you think of the decision? Fair punishment or should she have gotten a lengthier suspension?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I totally agree but speaking from experience, an elbow to the chest hurts a lot more than a punch to the face, but I’m with you, leave the punching in the squared circle.

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  2. I can see how this was an accident. I remember on several occasions when I have accidentally cocked my arm back, focused in on someones face and put my fist into their eye socket.

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  3. Much less the suspension Michael Bradley got for following the ref down the tunnel after a match.

    In fact it’s half as long. Bradley got 4. Granted, you have to protect your referees, but had Bradley hit a ref, it would have been much longer. So verbal abuse of an official, 4 games. Punching another player in the face during game action, 2 games. Got it. Much better to settle your disputes that way.

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  4. Andrade has been effectively banned for the rest of the games. Colombia’s chances of advancing are effectively nil – no goals scored yet, and France has their sights set on ’em next. The French ladies are a good team and will advance out of group G along with USA. I think we can count the N. Koreans out as well – unless they show up with guns and knives drawn (and I’m giving this no more than a 10% chance – and no more than a 50% chance they’ll try to intentionally injure one or more US players) they’ll head back to the Kim Family Gulag after tomorrow, where with luck their porky-pie leader-boy won’t have them executed for failing to win.

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  5. In our household punching and/or biting used to draw an immediate swat to the behind (less harsh than it might sound – the diaper usually absorbed (so to speak) the majority of the force 🙂 and a quick trip to crib-land for an enforced nap. Our three learned fairly quickly that this behavior was not tolerated, and t’was better to just screech at the top of their lungs. Perhaps the gentleman (?) in question was too old to swat and too big for a crib?

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  6. As the parent of a young lady who plays soccer I’m looking to these Olympics to provide positive examples of play and sportsmanship. I’m pleased that FIFA stepped in and took appropriate action regarding Ms. Andrade but am disappointed that the on-field refereeing team failed to red-card her immediately. But focusing on the positive, it’s a good example for young players to learn from – the refs don’t always get it right no matter what the level, be it U14 club or the Olympics, so take the calls as they come and play on. And good job to Ms. Wambach for retaining composure and retaliating appropriately – with a goal. 🙂 GO TEAM USA!!!

    (And speaking of “teaching moments” – Abby Morgan’s second goal in game 1 – I *will* be banging my daughter over the head (metaphorically speaking) with this one for years to come. The action is all on the far side – Morgan, the near-side forward, sprints to the post (and I mean *sprints* – she’s at a dead run to get there) – ball passed into the box – rolls through to Morgan – one-touch tap goal. Sound, basic soccer – work hard *especially* when you don’t have the ball, get in position, be ready, and pay attention. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ms. Morgan! And, oh yeah, nice shot 🙂

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  7. Awesome.

    Imagine if Christiano Ronaldo got that kind of treatment! It would take a case of tissues and a helicopter for him to recover.

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