By DAN KARELL
The Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee was busy this week handing out suspensions to four different players around the league.
The Committee announced on Wednesday one-match suspensions to Chivas USA defender Mario de Luna, Vancouver Whitecaps defender Johnny Leveron, Colorado Rapids forward Edson Buddle, and Real Salt Lake defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe.
De Luna’s suspension comes for what the Committee calls “aggressively retrieving the ball” from a ball boy in the 86th minute of Chivas’ match against the Portland Timbers. Leveron was judged to have committed a “reckless challenge that endangered the safety of his opponent,” in the match against the LA Galaxy.
Buddle was also suspended for a reckless challenge during his side’s match against Columbus Crew midfielder Tony Tchani, while Watson-Siriboe was suspended for violent conduct towards Montreal Impact forward Marco Di Vaio, after the RSL defender kicked at the head of Di Vaio while the two were tangled on the ground.
All of the suspended players will serve their suspensions during their team’s next matches, set to take place this Saturday or Sunday.
The Committee did not hand down suspensions to Crew midfielder Jairo Arrieta for his elbow on Rapids defender Drew Moor, Earthquakes midfielder Sam Cronin for his studs up challenge on Seattle Sounders midfielder Mauro Rosales, or Philadelphia Union defender Bakary Soumare for his off the ball shoulder on Chicago Fire forward Quincy Amarikwa.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber also announced that San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Martin Chavez’s two-match suspension had been reduced to one game, leaving him available for the Earthquakes match on Saturday against the Rapids.
Chavez had been suspended originally for an elbow to the head of Toronto FC defender Logan Emery. Chavez and the Earthquakes reportedly appealed the decision and won the appeal.
What do you make of these suspensions? Do you agree with the decisions? Should De Luna be suspended for trying to get the ball from a Timbers ball boy? Should the league have suspended Arrieta, Cronin, and Soumare as well?
Share your thoughts below.