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The latest on the Blanco-D.C. mess

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If you are wondering what’s new with the Cuauhtemoc Blanco situation, the Chicago Tribune’s Luis Arroyave does a good job getting the Chicago take on the events of last Tuesday. He also put to rest growing rumors about Blanco having a run-in with a police officer at the game.

And those of you who were up in arms about MLS yanking the video of Blanco’s punch thrown at Clyde Simms had a gripe. According to an MLS source, a league employee mistakenly requested that the videos be taken down from YouTube. Apparently the mix-up occurred because someone thought it was an MLS match, when it wasn’t. I’ve been told that the video was to be put back up, though I wasn’t able to find it.

So what next?

An MLS suspension for Blanco is not going to happen, though a U.S. Open Cup suspension should come down soon. And for those of you wondering, Chicago next faces D.C. United on Aug. 16th at Toyota Park. The Fire won’t be returning to D.C. during the regular season, but as we have seen in recent years, there is always the post-season.

The whole incident does raise some serious questions about MLS and the role it can take in sanctioning an MLS player. At what point can the league step in and punish a player for behavior that casts a bad light on the league? This is a general question, and not one specifically targeted at Blanco, who at this point seems to have been guilty of little more than the punch. That aside, at what point would MLS get involved? Could an MLS player theoretically assault fans, punch police officers or maybe a referee and face only U.S. Open Cup sanctions if it was an Open Cup match? Would U.S. Soccer have to step in with some all-encompassing punishment?

An MLS source tells me this whole issue is being looked at very closely in the wake of Tuesday’s incident and it will be very interesting to see if any policies are changed or established as a result of Blanco’s run-in with D.C. United.

What do you think of this situation? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. About 8 years ago the Revs had a Dutch player who made a racially insensitive remark to a black team mate during practice. The League fined him $25K. MLS can damn well fine and suspend Mr White if they choose. I sure hope the do.

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  2. If you watch the vidoe closely you’ll see that Simms actually gouges his own eye in some sort of sadistic ritual before he goes on a puppy kicking rampage. and there’s multiple eye witness accounts of that, as well as Big Foot scoring a bicycle in extra time.

    So the guy got a scratch on the face. He was in the in a fight after all. Blanco got read carded like he deserved. It’s a none issue.

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  3. I see it like this. As a player for the MLS, you are representing the MLS in all your endeavors on and off the field. Friendly competition, cup competition, it doesn’t matter. That being said, why can’t the MLS punish him for such things. After all, they pay his contract.

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  4. simms must have abs of steel because he didn’t even react to Blanco’s punch. It seems like he caught him in the arm and now all the DC fanboys are blowing this out of proportion.

    They look the other way when their idol Olsen goes around kicking and spitting on people.

    Real classy them DC fans huh?

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  5. OK…just watched the video. How in the world was the slide tackle from behind on Moreno not a red card. That was a vicious, vicious tackle. Wow.

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  6. Brett,

    Agree with you 100% I was only responding to the poster who said nothing happened – and I partially agree with him/her since the only things that are concretely verified are what’s on the field. Fire and USSF will take action, but it will probably just be a USOC suspension, which won’t amount to anything anyway.

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  7. I know nothing is going to come from MLS b/c it was a USOC match, but since they are single entity and MLS officially owns his contract couldn’t they take action if they wanted?

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  8. soyinocente – it was a USSF sanction game, not an MLS… no charges have been filed (that we know about…. if an incedent occured while representing their nation, the league wouldnt take any action, this is no different….

    what happened on the field is up to the USSF to decide a punishment, if anything happened off the field its then up to the MLS

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  9. Hm could that be because NOTHING bad really did happen? Still no evidence to prove the headbutt rumor, no evidence to prove the eye gouge claim, and the ludicrous story about him fighting with the police has been proven false. He got punished for what happened on the field, and now it’s time for all DCU fanboi types to get over yourselves and move on.

    Posted by: anotherbodymurdered | July 11, 2008 at 01:11 PM

    SOMETHING happened. Video evidence shows the punch to the gut. I was at the game and saw the “eye gouge” but I thought it was a punch/slap to the face. That’s what I thought got him redcarded, as I was visually blocked from my position regarding the first punch. I’m sure the “eye gouge” is on video, since it happened on the field in the same area as the rest of the scuffle, just about 30 seconds later.

    The alleged head butt sounds like he-said, he-said stuff (I agree with the Fire that a united staffer shouldn’t have been in the fire bench area – officials should be enforcing). The alleged cop slap may or may not have occurred, but no cop is going to waste his time on such a minor infraction even if it did occur. Given the police statement, that’s a non-issue.

    Bottom line, there’s going to be video of 2 strikes by Blanco on the field of play (punch and slap/eye gouge) – That’s SOMETHING. The rest should go away.

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  10. i think mls should look at what european leagues do. if a player from spain gets a red card playing in the champions league, it doesnt effect the la liga games. kind of sad, but i dont think mls can do too much. i know this incident casts a bad cloud on mls, but im not sure what they can do.

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  11. betinho- the fire’s take on it?? if you are refering to Luis’s article, the fire were talking about the “headbutt” not the incedent on the field…

    altho i read it something like 2 days ago so its a bit hazy, but i dont recall them truely talking much about the onfield action

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  12. I havent seen the tape.. but it was a US Cup game, they can punish him if they want. It’s wasn’t mls and the cop stuff wasn’t true so who cares..

    also, i heard from someone who watched the tape that Simms kneed blanco in the head.. either way .. who cares its not a big deal

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  13. The problem with the “slap on the wrist” solution is the appearance of being treated differently because he is Blanco.

    Ricardo Clark got suspended for several games after kicking Carlos Ruiz.

    Since the league has punished players for non-league behavior, and they’ve given multiple game punishments for violent conduct on the field, I expect the league will suspend him 1 or 2 games with a minor fine.

    What is USSF’s role in situations like this? They’re governing body of all US competitions. If they were to say, Blanco should be suspended for 2 games in MLS, would they have the authority to enforce it?

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  14. ‘It seems to me they think nothign bad happened.’

    Hm could that be because NOTHING bad really did happen? Still no evidence to prove the headbutt rumor, no evidence to prove the eye gouge claim, and the ludicrous story about him fighting with the police has been proven false. He got punished for what happened on the field, and now it’s time for all DCU fanboi types to get over yourselves and move on.

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  15. After hearing that it seems the penalty on Blanco will be even less than I thought. I say 2 game USOC suspension. And that’s it. He didn’t break anyone’s leg and he aimed his punch for a meaty section. Please USSF just slap his wrist and lets move on.

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  16. This non-issue is now officially a non-issue.

    I’ll cheer him twice as loud saturday night, love that he came in as a sub after the 100th minute and cares enough to get into it.

    But don’t worry all you DC, NY, NE fans he’s only one yellow away from a suspension anyway so you can keep crossing your fingers that it’ll come the game before we play your teams.

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  17. Ives,

    A few years back, Hristo Stoichkov, while playing for United in a friendly match against American University, intentionally broke the leg of an American University student. After MLS investigated, Stoichkov was fined $2,000 and suspended 2 days.

    While it’s not comparing apples to apples, there is a precedent set my the league to punish players for non-league misconduct.

    Ted

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  18. kpugs, Did you read the Chicago take on this? It seems to me they think nothign bad happened. I don’t think the Fire will be imposing any punishement on him.

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  19. Betinho- they removed the video from youtube.com… and the “headbutt” wasnt included on the clip…

    it was only what happened on the field…

    ————————————-

    kpugs- yes i agree the fire should fine him a few grand…. but i doubt that will actually teach him anything… its a few grand…. probably has that much in his wallet..

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  20. That’s fine with me if the league doesn’t take action. I think the Fire should do something. I guess they wouldn’t suspend their talisman but at least a fine of a few grand, something to acknowledge that they know he is wrong.

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  21. I can’t find the video either. I’d love to see if this was a head butt or as the Chicago Fire spokeperson said, that he grazed his forehead accidentally on the United employee’s cheek as he walked by.

    It’s entertaining to have a villain in the MLS. Other sports have had theirs. Blanco is our Terrell Owens I guess – that is until he starts dressing in drag and wearing make-up like Dennis Rodman.

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  22. Thanks for repoting on the facts. I was starting to get worried that these new developments would get burried and folks would continue to think that Blanco went on a cop slapping rampage.

    I think the punch was uncalled for and even if he’s going for the ball he doesn’t seem to mind that he got Simms square in the side. A red card was warranted and an extra match or two suspension is in order. I say he missed 3 US Open Cup matches next year.

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  23. The FIRE stand for 3 things:

    TRADITION

    HONOR

    PASSION

    Well Blanco has the PASSION part down but taking cheap shots at other players means he has NO HONOR which will not add to the FIRE’s TRADITION.

    Just my 2 cents speaking from a FIRE fan’s point of view.

    Anyone else think this will be Blanco’s last year in Chicago?

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  24. The downfall of Cuah is greatly exaggerated.

    Suspend him for 100 open cup games. Theres a good chance he wont come back anyway. Next yr is his option and his dream is to retire with America.

    DC can have the Open Cup and homefield for the playofs.

    The Fire will still go in their and kick their a$$ like they always do.

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