The tricky part about Major League Soccer implementing a system of retroactive punishment isn’t the motivation. The league suffered a number of serious, season-ending injuries last year. It is determined to back up its officials, protect its best attacking players and eliminate long-held tactics like embellishment. But MLS needs to make sure it watches every game as closely as D.C. United’s nationally televised match against FC Dallas last week. That made it easy to hand United defender Brandon McDonald a one-game suspension for a tackle from behind on Dallas forward Blas Perez that earned only a yellow card at the time.
“As long as they’re consistent with their message, I have no problem with it,” United coach Ben Olsen said. “But that’s the tough part. … It’s not going to be a perfect system.”
The league also fined United midfielder Danny Cruz for faking that an elbow from Dallas defender Jair Benitez hit his face. Benitez, meanwhile, was suspended for the same play because he was indeed throwing elbows — only to Cruz’s midsection.
McDonald was surprised by his punishment but doesn’t plan to play differently.
“This is why they got me here, to be that type of player on the field, and I think we need it,” McDonald said. “It’d be foolish of me to change the way I play, but at the same time, I have to be smart about what I’m doing. I’m obviously not trying to hurt anybody and take away from the league.”
If that’s the case, MLS could be getting the effect it intended.
– Craig Stouffer
