If the New York Red Bulls manage to go on a run to MLS Cup, Designated Player Rafa Marquez won't be a part of it.
Major League Soccer suspended Marquez two additional games on top of his one-game suspension for a red card and fined him an additional $2,000 for his part in the postgame scuffle between the Red Bulls and Los Angeles Galaxy following the first leg of their Western Conference semifinal on Sunday.
Teemu Tainio and Adam Cristman were fined an undisclosed amount for their roles in the incident. Galaxy midfielder Juninho, who was also given a red card for his postgame actions, was not disciplined any further.
According to a statement released by the league, "Marquez's conduct was violent and aggressive and put the League in disrepute."
The MLS Players Union appealed the decision, according to the league statement, but MLS commissioner Don Garber upheld the decision made by the league's Disciplinary Committee on Thursday.
"After thorough examination of the incident that followed the Oct. 30 game between the New York Red Bulls and the LA Galaxy, the Disciplinary Committee strongly believed Rafa Marquez must be punished above the red card he was issued for throwing the ball after the final whistle because of the following actions: attempting to head butt Adam Cristman, attempting to punch Adam Cristman; striking Cristman, and simulating that he had been struck in the face," MLS executive vice president Nelson Rodriguez said.
Marquez will serve his now-three-game suspension in the next New York games he's eligible to play. Should the Red Bulls overturn their deficit and advance to the conference final and then MLS Cup, Marquez would have to miss all of that. Otherwise, he'll serve part of his suspension next season.
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