Photo by ISIphotos.com
Cuauhtemoc Blanco is in some trouble. Just how much remains to be seen.
As you have probably heard by now, Blanco was involved in a series of altercations late in Chicago’s U.S. Open Cup loss to D.C. United on Tuesday. Among the incidents were a punch to the midsection of D.C. United midfielder Clyde Simms (which was clearly seen in YouTube video clips before MLS had them removed), an apparent eye gouging of Simms, and an alledged headbutt of a D.C. official who tried to get Blanco to leave the sidelines after the game was over.
D.C. has sent video of the incidents to Major League Soccer and it will be very interesting to see what, if any, punishment the league hands down (if it can hand down any) for an incident that took place in a U.S. Open Cup match and not an MLS match.
The incidents are a disappointing development in what has been an otherwise very successful tenure in MLS for the enigmatic Blanco, who arrived in the league with a reputation as a troublemaker and someone who might cause problems at some point.
What sort of problems. Consider these incidents in Blanco’s past:
Blanco helped incite a riot after a Club America match almost two years ago:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsxxr51JgnI&hl=en&fs=1]
He also sucker-punched a journalist:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uYGDcwvDMs&hl=en&fs=1]
So what will happen to Blanco next? If he did, in fact, do everything he is accused of then I wouldn’t be surprised if he receives some sort of lengthy ban (lifetime ban perhaps) from the U.S. Open Cup. Not sure if MLS is ready to suspend a player for actions from a non-MLS game but if they do it would set a very interesting precedent and I wonder how the Chicago Fire would respond to that, if it even happens.
Can MLS suspend him? The league certainly can because it owns his contract and can decide that his actions put MLS in a bad light. The question is WILL MLS suspend him.
What do you think? Should Blanco be suspended from MLS matches because of his U.S. Open Cup meltdown? Should his suspension be limited to U.S. Open Cup play? Share your thoughts below
When you play (any sport) you are given a duty; a goalie is not supposed to allow goals for example…, a striker to score…, a midfielder to have possesion of the ball…,etc. In proffesional sports,
in a very important game you are to do what is needed to make your team the winner at the end…, that’s what the D.C.
players were doing (getting into Blanco’s nerves), and Blanco reacted as they were expecting…, and they won. At the end D.C advances, Chicago is eliminated, Blanco gets punished for three to six games on the USOC and we move on…, but it didn’t go like that just because it’s the MLS…, please grow up as a league, check out what happens not only in soccer, but in all sports…, Blanco doesn’t need to make the MLS look bad…, the MLS makes it self look bad.
P.S. Beckham and Donovan should try doing somethig like this so we could talk about them, since nothing happens with them on the field.
No inccident with police – DONE!
Clyde Simms on field incident – RED CARD DONE!
DC employee on Fire bench intervening and lack of security as he was (eventually) escorted off – FIne by USSF maybe a Open Cup suspension.
MLS ain’t gonna touch this one.
THey didn’t touch Gallardo’s obvious elbow in their prime game of the summer agianst their golden boy Landycakes they’re not going to touch this one.
Plus, moreno4prez, isn’t the fact that he isn’t in jail or even booked tell you that nothing happened? Last I recalled cops aren’t really the type of people to roll over when they get slapped.
So the more facts we get the more it looks like Blanco simply tried to punch the ball out of Simms hands (because he was stalling in the closing minutes of an elimination match) took a little too much time on the back swing and just stopped carring if he got ball or Simms. A clear red card and maybe an extra match suspension. Done and Done. I love how quickly everyone wants to believe the worst about Blanco. He’s really getting into people’s heads.
From Luis’ Red Card Blog:
By the way, last night I spoke to Lt. Karen Petrarca, a spokeswoman with the Maryland-National Capital Park Police. She spoke to one of the officers that was on hand for Tuesday’s Fire-D.C. United U.S. Open match and was told there was no incident involving Blanco and the police. Hopefully that will put to rest a lot of the stories floating around.
So that is why Blanco was not arrested, nothing happened with the police. Fan’s running with conjecture? Who would have thought! (End sarcasm.)
He should be in jail if the off-field allegations are true.
The team representatives are being a bunch of excusatory morons. WHy make up excuses for somebody who disrespects other players like that? Thats rediculous. I wish the fire management would have some stones and stand up for what is right. This shouldn’t ba a lifetime, but the non-action is making it worse. The longer this goes, the more people remember it as a cowardly punk move and this country and this league doesn’t need a guy who does that.