Soccer Buzz

Okay, I have to make at least a quick mention of this.  Mehdi Ballouchy has been suspended for two games for an elbow to the Wizards Sasha Victorine on July 22.  Victorine had to be removed from the match because of the incident, but Ballouchy was only given a yellow card.

Yesterday, the league’s disciplinary committee announced that they were suspending Ballouchy for 2 games and fined him $1,000.  (video of the play)   In addition, Kansas City head coach Curt Onalfo was fined $1,000 and defender Nick Garcia fined $250 for public criticism of the game’s officials.

Personally, this deserved more than two games.  This appeared to be premeditated, and Victorine was fortunate that he did not have to miss any more games because of the incident.  Daniele De Rossi received 4 games for his elbow against Brian McBride last year in the World Cup, and just because Ballouchy didn’t catch Victorine in the face doesn’t mean that the elbow was any less vicious or dangerous.

Also, for those who believe the committee should not add suspensions for incidents that were seen by the referee, first, I don’t think referee Tim Weyland saw the elbow.  Judging by the video, he was likely watching the ball after Victorine played it forward, and while he knew that Ballouchy barged into Victorine well after the ball was played, he was likely not focused enough to see the elbow.

Second, even if Weyland saw the elbow, players should not be able to get away with violent or excessively reckless conduct that results in injury just because of an incompetent referee.  Somebody needs to protect players, and if a referee won’t do it, then the league should.

Andy Herron received four games for his elbow on Jay Heaps in May (and that was probably lenient) so I’m not sure why Ballouchy is only getting two for this one.

Mehdi Ballouchy, Sasha Victorine, Curt Onalfo, Nick Garcia, Andy Herron, Jay Heaps,