New York, NY – Red Bull New York midfielder Rafa Marquez was suspended an additional two games Thursday by Major League Soccer, ruling him out of the rest of the MLS Cup playoffs, should New York advance.
Marquez received a red card following the final whistle of the first leg of an Eastern Conference semifinal series match against the Los Angeles Galaxy, and the league deemed the action "violent and aggressive" and also "put the league in disrepute."
The Mexican international received an automatic one-fixture suspension for the red card and a $250 fine, but was suspended two more matches and fined $2,000 more for his actions.
Marquez will serve his suspension during New York���s match Thursday against the Galaxy, plus the next two Red Bulls games for which he is eligible. If the Red Bulls made the MLS Cup final, he would miss the conference final and final.
MLS Executive Vice President Nelson Rodriguez, who oversees the Disciplinary Committee and speaks on its behalf, issued the following statement:
"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."
The MLS Players Union appealed the committee's decision on behalf of Marquez, but MLS Commissioner Don Garber heard the appeal Thursday and upheld the ban.
The Disciplinary Committee issued undisclosed fines to LA Galaxy forward Adam Cristman and New York midfielder Teemu Tainio, both for improper conduct and escalating the incident that Marquez started.
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