Major League Soccer has suspended FC Cincinnati midfielder Gerardo Valenzuela for a total of two games, and levied additional fines to several members of both teams after the postgame altercation July 25 following FC Cincinnati’s 2-1 loss to Columbus Crew.
The MLS Disciplinary Committee suspended Valenzuela for one additional match in addition to his red card suspension after he received a red cardfor a hard foul in second-half stoppage time.
Valenzuela will serve his regular suspension during FC Cincinnati’s next match against the San Jose Earthquakes on Aug. 1 at TQL Stadium. The additional match suspension will be served during Cincinnati’s match at Orlando City SC on Aug. 15. Cincinnati will play three games in the Leagues Cup in between but
that is a separate competition and MLS suspensions don’t carry over.
The committee fined Valenzuela an undisclosed amount under Disciplinary Committee Parameter 2, which reads that “Supplemental discipline (suspension and/or fine) will be administered if the Committee believes the offense is egregious in nature; and/or it must act to protect player safety; and/or it must protect the integrity of the game; and/or the player is guilty of repeat behavior.”
Valenzuela received a similar punishment earlier this season after committing a red-card foul in the second half of Cincinnati’s 6-1 loss at New England March 15. He was suspended an additional match for that foul, too.
The MLS Disciplinary Committee also found both teams in violation of the Mass Confrontation Policy. Cincy has violated the policy for the first time this season, and fines have been issued to the club and head coach Pat Noonan. Columbus Crew have violated the policy for the third time this season and fines have been issued to the club and head coach Laurent Courtois.
Due to their roles in the mass confrontation, FC Cincinnati forward Ayoub Jabbari and Assistant Coach Kenny Arena; and Columbus Crew players Mohamed Farsi, Sean Zawadzki and Max Arfsten will be fined for inciting and/or escalating a mass confrontation.
The hostilities began after Valenzuela ran full speed into Columbus forward Taha Habroune, knocking him down. That led to a fracas as several Columbus players rushed to Valenzuela to defend their teammate, and Cincinnati players rushed to the scene to defend Valenzuela, who drew a red card for violent conduct.
After the final whistle, video showed Valenzuela appearing to motion to Columbus players to come meet him outside the field of play. According to the Columbus Dispatch, Farsi and Zawadski ran after Valenzuela and had to be restrained.
The argument continued into the tunnel near the locker rooms. A video captured by Columbus TV reporter Adam King that was shared on social media showed the teams yelling at each other and being separated. The video showed no physical confrontation.
Habroune injured a leg in the collision. The Dispatch reported he has had some discomfort but fully participated in training July 30.
“We were a bit frustrated with what happened on the field," Farsi told the Dispatch July 25. "The way that he hit Taha, I think it was just vicious. At the end of the day, we all play the same sport. I know it's a derby, but he needs to have some sportsmanship. ... If you want to make a foul, grab him and put him down, but don't try to break his leg.”
“In the tunnel, nothing really happened," Farsi continued. "It's not the image that we want to show to young kids who watch us, but at the end of the day we try to protect our players from some vicious play like that, some dangerous plays."
In an interview with the Enquirer’s Yanyan Li July 29 before the additional suspension, Valenzuela acknowledged his mistake.
“It was just frustration and I went in (on) a reckless challenge and got a red card for it,” he said. “He was going to give a yellow and I’m sure because everyone came over and started a fight, maybe the VAR changed it to a red.”
He will focus on helping the team in the Leagues Cup, in which Cincinnati will host three teams from Mexico’s Liga MX Aug. 4-11.
“There are other games,” he said. “Just (be) professional. You just gotta move on and and keep training as hard as you can … and just learn from it."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: MLS suspends FC Cincinnati's Gerardo Valenzuela for additional game
