Don’t think we posted this over the weekend, but the Union went up to New York and shut out Red Bull 2-0.

In the late stages of the game, a frustrated Dru Yearwood booted the ball, which went into the stands and hit two fans:

The MLS disciplinary committee came back and suspended him for an extra three games:

NEW YORK (September 9, 2022) – Major League Soccer today issued additional discipline to New York Red Bulls midfielder Dru Yearwood for kicking a ball into the stands during the New York Red Bulls versus Philadelphia Union match on September 3 at Red Bull Arena.

In addition to the automatic one-game suspension for the red card Yearwood received during the match, MLS has suspended the player for three additional matches, four matches total, and issued an undisclosed fine.

Yearwood will be ineligible for the next four New York Red Bulls games, including matches against the New England Revolution on September 10, New York City FC on September 17, the Columbus Crew on October 1, and Charlotte FC on October 9.”

This is overkill. I get that they have to take fan safety seriously and they are trying to make an example of the guy, but three games is harsh. There have been players who spit on opponents and used homophobic slurs and received  two-game suspensions. That’s totally whack.

Also, to say he was “booting the ball into the crowd” is an assumption. Anybody who has ever played the game knows that you get frustrated and just kick the ball. You’re not even aiming for anything, you’re just trying to boot it. Maybe it comes off the boards, maybe it lands in the other half of the field, etc. You see Yearwood immediately go into the crowd and attempt to apologize, which should absolutely mean something. Obviously dude was not trying to blast the ball off someone’s head. Suspend him an extra game, send your message, and let’s get on with it. Accountability is important, but we’re going overboard with some of this shit, especially in MLS.