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SPORTSSaturday 20 June 2015
Clint Dempsey 3 game ban for ref confrontation
NEW YORK (AP) — Seattle against San Jose on Sat- Americans start the Gold they must always respect ejected for an elbow to a
forward Clint Dempsey urday, Philadelphia on all aspects of the game, Portland player.
was suspended for three Wednesday and Port- Cup against Honduras. especially the referees. In Dempsey, who was not
games by Major League land on June 28. While light of Clint’s actions and near the play, walked up
Soccer on Friday and fined Dempsey would have “We do not tolerate con- our past precedents, we to referee Daniel Radford
for confronting a referee had to sit out U.S. national felt that a significant sus- and grabbed his notebook
during a U.S. Open Cup team games during the duct of this nature from pension was appropriate.” out of his hand. Dempsey
game this week. The Professional Soccer threw the notebook,
MLS Commissioner Don any of our players,” MLS Referees Association was picked it up and ripped it
Garber concluded the less than pleased with in half and was shown a
former Fulham and Tot- Deputy Commissioner the three-game suspen- red card, leaving Seattle
tenham forward’s behav- sion, calling it a “slap on with seven men — the
ior was “referee abuse,” Mark Abbott said in a the wrist” and calling minimum for the match to
which requires a minimum Dempsey’s actions a di- continue.
three-game suspension, In this photo taken Tuesday, June 16, 2015, police officers rect threat to the integrity After being shown the
and not “referee assault,” escort the referees off the field after the Seattle Sounders of the game. red card, Dempsey had
which has a minimum six- played the Portland Timbers in a U.S. Open Cup soccer match “In late 2014 MLS was mov- to be restrained by team-
game ban. at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Wash. ing in the right direction in mates and a couple of
During the Sounders’ their response to referee opponents from getting
fourth-round loss to rival Associated Press assaults. Unfortunately, in the face of Radford. As
Portland, he grabbed a this is a serious step back- Dempsey walked off the
notebook from the of- suspension, the Americans statement. “No matter ward,” the PSRA said in a field, he clapped derisively
ficial and tore it after a do not play until a July 3 how passionate our play- statement. “Referee safety in the face of an assistant
teammate was given a exhibition against Guate- ers are or what happens in is an important issue at all referee on the sideline.
red card. Dempsey could mala, four days before the the ‘heat of the moment,’ levels of the game and Portland went on to win
face further discipline from MLS should have used its the match 3-1, ending Se-
a panel established by the high profile position to lead attle’s reign as U.S. Open
U.S. Soccer Federation, rather than regress.” Cup champion. Upset fans
but any additional suspen- With Seattle down to nine threw water bottles on the
sion would be limited to men in overtime after an field, and Radford’s offici-
U.S. Open Cup matches. injury and red card, team- ating crew left with a po-
He will miss league games mate Micheal Azira was lice escort.q
SPORTSSaturday 20 June 2015
Clint Dempsey 3 game ban for ref confrontation
NEW YORK (AP) — Seattle against San Jose on Sat- Americans start the Gold they must always respect ejected for an elbow to a
forward Clint Dempsey urday, Philadelphia on all aspects of the game, Portland player.
was suspended for three Wednesday and Port- Cup against Honduras. especially the referees. In Dempsey, who was not
games by Major League land on June 28. While light of Clint’s actions and near the play, walked up
Soccer on Friday and fined Dempsey would have “We do not tolerate con- our past precedents, we to referee Daniel Radford
for confronting a referee had to sit out U.S. national felt that a significant sus- and grabbed his notebook
during a U.S. Open Cup team games during the duct of this nature from pension was appropriate.” out of his hand. Dempsey
game this week. The Professional Soccer threw the notebook,
MLS Commissioner Don any of our players,” MLS Referees Association was picked it up and ripped it
Garber concluded the less than pleased with in half and was shown a
former Fulham and Tot- Deputy Commissioner the three-game suspen- red card, leaving Seattle
tenham forward’s behav- sion, calling it a “slap on with seven men — the
ior was “referee abuse,” Mark Abbott said in a the wrist” and calling minimum for the match to
which requires a minimum Dempsey’s actions a di- continue.
three-game suspension, In this photo taken Tuesday, June 16, 2015, police officers rect threat to the integrity After being shown the
and not “referee assault,” escort the referees off the field after the Seattle Sounders of the game. red card, Dempsey had
which has a minimum six- played the Portland Timbers in a U.S. Open Cup soccer match “In late 2014 MLS was mov- to be restrained by team-
game ban. at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Wash. ing in the right direction in mates and a couple of
During the Sounders’ their response to referee opponents from getting
fourth-round loss to rival Associated Press assaults. Unfortunately, in the face of Radford. As
Portland, he grabbed a this is a serious step back- Dempsey walked off the
notebook from the of- suspension, the Americans statement. “No matter ward,” the PSRA said in a field, he clapped derisively
ficial and tore it after a do not play until a July 3 how passionate our play- statement. “Referee safety in the face of an assistant
teammate was given a exhibition against Guate- ers are or what happens in is an important issue at all referee on the sideline.
red card. Dempsey could mala, four days before the the ‘heat of the moment,’ levels of the game and Portland went on to win
face further discipline from MLS should have used its the match 3-1, ending Se-
a panel established by the high profile position to lead attle’s reign as U.S. Open
U.S. Soccer Federation, rather than regress.” Cup champion. Upset fans
but any additional suspen- With Seattle down to nine threw water bottles on the
sion would be limited to men in overtime after an field, and Radford’s offici-
U.S. Open Cup matches. injury and red card, team- ating crew left with a po-
He will miss league games mate Micheal Azira was lice escort.q
