Photo by USA Today Sports Images
By CARL SETTERLUND
The MLS Disciplinary Committee announced Thursday that a one-game suspension has been doled out to Portland Timbers defender Norberto Paparatto for a 39th-minute elbow during last Sunday’s match against the Seattle Sounders. Paparatto also received an undisclosed fine.
The play came off of a Portland corner kick with the host Timbers trailing 2-0 at the time. Paparatto came flying in behind Chad Marshall, who was making a play to head the ball away, and delivered an elbow to the back of the Seattle defender’s head.
Referee Baldomero Toledo issued Paparatto a yellow card at the time, much to the displeasure of Sounders coach Sigi Schmid. Marshall, who stayed in the game, had previously suffered concussions in the 2007 and 2012 seasons during his tenure with the Columbus Crew.
Paparatto is scheduled to miss Saturday’s road game against the Vancouver Whitecaps. That match has serious implications on the final Western Conference playoff spot, as the Whitecaps currently sit in fifth place, two points ahead of the Timbers, with a game in hand.
Watch the foul for yourself here:
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What do you think of the suspension? Did Paparatto get what was coming to him or was Toledo’s initial judgment the correct one? Will his absence have an impact on this weekend’s game?
Share your thoughts below.