Clint Dempsey has been suspended for three games by Major League Soccer for tearing up a referee's notebook during a U.S. Open Cup game earlier this week.
The Seattle Sounders star also was fined an undisclosed amount for his actions Tuesday night, which earned one of three red cards handed to Seattle players in a 3-1 extra-time loss to rival Portland.
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“We do not tolerate conduct of this nature from any of our players,” MLS deputy commissioner Mark Abbott said in a statement. “No matter how passionate our players are or what happens in the ‘heat of the moment,’ they must always respect all aspects of the game, especially the referees. In light of Clint’s actions and our past precedents, we felt that a significant suspension was appropriate.”
The three-game ban will keep Dempsey eligible to compete for the United States in the upcoming Gold Cup. If the suspension had overlapped with Gold Cup games, Dempsey would have been ineligible to participate.
Dempsey's suspension will end after Seattle's June 28 game against Portland. The U.S. Gold Cup opener is July 7 against Honduras.
