Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
Major League Soccer has toed a hard line this season on coaches leaving their technical area, so it wasn’t much of a surprise when both D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen and Montreal Impact manager Marco Schällibaum were sent off last Saturday by the referee.
What is surprising however is that on Friday, MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced that he has rescinded Olsen’s automatic one-game suspension and fine, while adding an additional match suspension and fine of $5,000 to Schällibaum.
Both coaches were ejected in the 76th minute of last Saturday’s match at State Saputo in Montreal, after Schällibaum raced out of his technical area to confront D.C. United defender James Riley. Riley had gone in strong along the sideline on Justin Mapp, knocking the Impact winger into a television camera.
The ejection was the third for Schällibaum this season, which was the reason given for the additional suspension and fine. The first-year Impact coach will be eligible to return to the sidelines on September 8, when the Impact visit the New England Revolution.
What do you think of this news? Do you agree with Garber’s decision? Surprised that Olsen’s suspension was rescinded?
Share your thoughts below.