By DAN KARELL
Whether or not Seattle Sounders Designated Player Clint Dempsey meant to hit Toronto FC defender Mark Bloom below the belt last Saturday, he’s suffering the consequences.
The Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee announced on Friday that Dempsey has been suspended for two matches and fined an undisclosed amount for violent conduct.
The Disciplinary Committee also levied a two-game suspension and undisclosed fine to Chicago Fire defender Lovell Palmer for violent conduct and a one-game suspension and undisclosed fine to New York Red Bulls defender Armando for serious foul play.
Dempsey, who scored in the Sounders’ 2-1 defeat to TFC, will miss the Sounders upcoming matches at the Montreal Impact and at home against the Columbus Crew. Palmer will miss the Fire’s next two matches against the Red Bulls and D.C. United, and Armando will miss the Red Bulls’ match on Sunday at the Chicago Fire.
Both Dempsey and Palmer submitted appeals to the Disciplinary Committee but the Committee’s decision was upheld.
While Dempsey’s suspension comes from his incident with Bloom, Palmer is suspended for an incident with Max Urruti in the first half of the Fire’s game last Sunday against the Portland Timbers. Armando is suspended following an incident with Deshorn Brown of the Colorado Rapids in the first half of last Saturday’s match.
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What do you think of this news? Surprised to see Dempsey suspended for two matches? Think that it was intentional? How do the suspensions affect all three teams?
Share your thoughts below.