Cuauhtemoc Blanco, the Chicago Fire designated player, has been suspended from US Open Cup play for at least two years. You may recall that Blanco was kicked out of a US Open Cup quarterfinal match against DC United earlier this month after punching a DC player in the stomach. It was alleged that after not timely leaving the field Blanco headbutted a DC United official. The Washington Post's Steven Goff has the details:
The USSF's five-member adjudication and discipline panel reviewed the incident this week. The game was not televised, but video taken on the sideline by a United film crew was provided to the panel.
The red card carried an automatic one-game suspension, which will be applied next summer because Chicago was eliminated by United. He cannot play in 2009 or 2010, and longer if the Fire competes in fewer than six games during those two years.
"US Soccer has a well-established hearing process to consider these types of situations," DCU President Kevin Payne said. "We're satisfied the hearing panel did their job and that the punishment is consistent with past, similar incidents."
The question still remains whether MLS will sanction Blanco for his actions. The sideline video will not be released.
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