After an intense and contentious soccer match between the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Mexico, four players have received suspensions due to the game’s fiery nature and the unruly behavior of the crowd.
The match, held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas last week, witnessed pushing, shoving, and discriminatory chants from spectators, resulting in the game being cut short by approximately four minutes. Concacaf, the governing body for soccer in North and Central America, announced the suspensions on Friday, attributing them to “on-field player misconduct.”
César Montes from Mexico and Weston McKennie from the USMNT, whose jersey was torn during a scuffle, faced the most severe penalties, with both players being suspended for four games. Gerardo Arteaga from Mexico and Sergiño Dest from the USMNT received three-game suspensions each. The suspensions include an automatic one-game ban and must be served during Concacaf national team competitions.
Tensions escalated just before the 70-minute mark when Montes kicked out at Folarin Balogun, resulting in a red card. Shortly thereafter, McKennie was also sent off for his involvement in the ensuing altercation. Fifteen minutes later, another scuffle between Arteaga and Dest led to both players receiving straight red cards for pushing each other.
Concacaf not only imposed suspensions but also levied an undisclosed fine on both federations involved in the match. Additionally, they warned that further incidents in upcoming matches would result in even more severe sanctions. CNN has reached out to the US and Mexican federations for comments regarding the matter.
Despite the disciplinary actions, the USMNT emerged as winners, securing a 3-0 victory. They subsequently clinched the Nations League title with a 2-0 win against Canada three days later. Both teams are now preparing for the upcoming Gold Cup, where the USMNT is set to face Jamaica in Chicago on Saturday, while Mexico will take on Honduras in Houston on Sunday.
These suspensions serve as a reminder of the significance of upholding sportsmanship and fair play on the field. Such disciplinary measures aim to discourage future incidents and foster a positive and respectful atmosphere during soccer matches.