On May 1, MLS fined the Seattle Sounders' Eddie Johnson for his inappropriate gesture at the April 28 game with the Chicago Fire. The announcement follows previous suspensions for Jalil Anibaba and head coach Frank Klopas. I think the MLS Disciplinary Committee made the right decision in Johnson's case, but it may not be finished with penalties.
Eddie Johnson's Fine
The Seattle Sounders' Eddie Johnson will pay a fine for his inappropriate gesture at the April 28 match, but he will not be suspended. He made the gesture as he was leaving the field at Toyota Park and was captured on video by fans. It is nice to see the MLS Disciplinary Committee take a stance on this type of behavior instead of ignoring it.
The committee's fine was probably prompted by the complete lack of respect that Eddie Johnson showed to Chicago Fire fans at Toyota Park. Unfortunately, it seems that the MLS Disciplinary Committee will not be penalizing Eddie Johnson for his language during the game. Although some fans were able to capture his offensive remarks on video, it does not look like the committee will be pursing this and will be missing another opportunity to clarify player behavior. Considering the number of young children who were exposed to his language, this is a disappointment.
Retroactive Punishment Strikes Again
The MLS Disciplinary Committee is quickly gaining a new name as the retroactive punishment committee. The latest in its series of penalties for players after the games have ended has reached both the Chicago Fire and the Seattle Sounders FC. The Fire's Jalil Anibaba and Frank Klopas have been suspended while the Sounders' Eddie Johnson has been fined.
Unfortunately, the response from the MLS Disciplinary Committee still leaves questions. Is the organization planning to issue more penalties for the shoving match that ensued after the April 28 game? Will the actions of Jhon Kennedy Hurtado be addressed? It is possible that the committee is still debating the penalties and could be planning a staggered series of announcements. It would not be the first time that it has issued a delayed response.
More from this contributor:
Rafa Marquez Gets Suspended: MLS Fan Reaction
Why MLS Will Continue to Compete for Players with China: Fan View
MLS Expansion Possibilities in 2012: Fan View
Lana follows MLS , UEFA and FIFA. She has been a faithful fan of the Chicago Fire since 1998. Follow @Lana_Bandoim on Twitter.
