ESPNsoccernet news services
The Major League Soccer Disciplinary Committee announced Thursday the supsension of Toronto FC defender Marco Velez for one game and fined him $250 for endangering another player with a deliberate blow to the head. The incident occurred on Sept. 6 in Toronto FC’s game versus Chivas USA.
Velez was involved in a physical confrontation with Chivas USA forward Alecko Eskandarian during added time at the end of the first half. Velez struck Eskandarian in the face, after Eskandarian had initially made contact to the face of Velez on a challenge for the ball. Both players were issued red cards on the play, but the Disciplinary Committee found that further disciplinary action was warranted.
This fine and suspension are in addition to the automatic one game suspension and $250 fine for the red card, totaling a two game suspension and a $500 fine. Velez will miss Toronto FC’s next two matches — versus the Columbus Crew on Sept. 13 and versus the Kansas City Wizards on Sept. 20.
