By DAN KARELL
The Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee was busy this week, handing out suspensions and fines to three players and one head coach.
FC Dallas left back Jair Benitez, Vancouver Whitecaps forward Kekutah Manneh, Colorado Rapids midfielder Hendry Thomas, and Thomas’ manager Oscar Pareja have all been suspended for one match and fined an undisclosed amount for various actions this past week.
The Rapids are now forced to play their next match at the Chicago Fire on June 19 without their head coach and two starters, as forward Atiba Harris earned a straight red card in the team’s 2-1 defeat to the San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday.
Thomas earned his suspension and fine for a “reckless challenge that endangered the safety of an opponent” on Earthquakes defender Steven Beitashour, while Pareja will miss the match for leaving his technical area to separate players during a short-lived scrum along the sideline.
Benitez was given a suspension for a head-butt on Portland Timbers forward Fredric Piquionne in the first-half of the Timbers 1-0 victory last Saturday. Benitez will now miss FC Dallas’ next match against Sporting Kansas City this Saturday.
Finally, the Whitecaps rookie Manneh, who acknowledged he had made a mistake immediately when the incident occurred, has been suspended for the Whitecaps next match against Chivas USA on Wednesday for “endangering the safety of an opponent.” Manneh was shown a yellow card in the second half for leaving his studs down and coming across the face of opposing goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
———
What do you make of these suspensions? Do you agree with them? Which team will miss their suspended player the most for their next match?
Share your thoughts below.