During Saturday's MLS game between the Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC, Clint Dempsey smacked TFC defender Mark Bloom in the groin. The referee of the match didn't spot it, leaving any discipline up to the MLS disciplinary committee. And they've come down on Dempsey, suspending him for two games, according to Kurtis Larson of the Toronto Sun.
Clint Dempsey suspended 2 games for violent conduct
The Seattle Sounders’ biggest star will be out for two games, but guess what he’s back just in time for?
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
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Had the referee spotted the incident live, Dempsey would have been shown a straight red card for violent conduct, which would have likely carried a three-game suspension with it. MLS have arguably let him off light for the incident.
With Dempsey out, Seattle will probably have to make a slight adjustment to the way they play. The team has other forwards on their roster, but none exactly like Dempsey. Chad Barrett and Kenny Cooper are true center forwards, though the latter likes to drop deep and pretend he's Dempsey-like from time to time. The team could also move Marco Pappa inside and start a winger in place of Dempsey.
Seattle's next two games are away to the Montreal Impact and at home against the Columbus Crew. Dempsey will return for a Cascadia Derby match against the Portland Timbers, just in case you were wondering how MLS arrived at their decision to suspend Dempsey for exactly two games.
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