Four players suspended after fiery US-Mexico soccer game
Following the intense soccer match between the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Mexico, four players have received suspensions due to the game’s aggressive nature and contentious crowd behavior.
The match, held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas last week, was marred by pushing, shoving, and discriminatory chants from the spectators, resulting in the contest being shortened by approximately four minutes. On Friday, Concacaf, the governing body for soccer in North and Central America, announced the suspensions, attributing them to “on-field player misconduct.”
César Montes from Mexico and Weston McKennie from the USMNT, whose jersey was torn during a scuffle, received the most severe penalties, with both players being suspended for four games. Gerardo Arteaga from Mexico and Sergiño Dest from the USMNT were each handed three-game suspensions. These 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.
Alongside the suspensions, Concacaf imposed undisclosed fines on both federations involved in the match. Additionally, they cautioned that further incidents during their upcoming matches would result in even more severe sanctions. CNN has reached out to the US and Mexican federations for their comments on the matter.
Despite the controversies, the USMNT emerged victorious in the match, securing a 3-0 win. They subsequently claimed the Nations League title with a 2-0 victory against Canada three days later. Both teams are now preparing for the upcoming Gold Cup, with the USMNT scheduled to face Jamaica in Chicago on Saturday, and Mexico set to take on Honduras in Houston on Sunday.
These suspensions serve as a reminder of the importance of upholding sportsmanship and fair play on the field. Such disciplinary actions aim to discourage future incidents and foster a positive and respectful atmosphere in soccer matches.
