Major League Soccer handed Kai Wagner a three-game suspension on Tuesday after accusations that he used racist language on the field last Saturday:

“MLS has issued a three-match suspension to Philadelphia Union defender Kai Wagner for violating the league’s on-field antidiscrimination policy during the Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution match on Saturday, October 28. 

The suspension is effective immediately and Wagner will be unavailable for the Philadelphia Union match on Wednesday, Nov. 8 against New England Revolution and the Union’s subsequent two MLS matches. If Philadelphia Union is eliminated from further play this season before the suspension is complete, then it will carry forward into the first match of the next season. Wagner is also required to continue to participate in league-mandated education and training sessions, a process which has already begun, and must remain in full compliance with a program directed by a league-appointed restorative practices expert.
  
In reaching this decision, MLS considered many factors, including Wagner’s immediate acceptance of responsibility, willingness to participate in a restorative practices process to repair the harm caused, and his cooperation with the league’s investigation.”

Wagner will miss tonight’s game against the Revs, then Saturday’s Game 3, if the series winds up tied 1-1. He’d be able to return for the conference final or MLS Cup, depending on the results of the New England series and whether or not the Union can beat Cincy on the road.

Kai issued a statement:

 

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So he cooperated with the investigation and copped to saying something inappropriate. What word or words did he actually use? That hasn’t been reported anywhere, though it was noted in the original Athletic writeup that “the slur Wagner allegedly directed at (Bobby) Wood was one historically directed toward Asian people.” In Wagner’s statement, he’s suggesting that someone said something about his family, which obviously cannot result in something discriminatory being used in response.

This is a shitty situation all around. Wagner is leaving the team when the playoffs are over, so unless the U take out New England and then pull off a road upset against the #1 seed, then Kai has played his last game. He is one of the top-8 or top-5 players to ever wear the shirt and has arguably been the best player on the field this season, so if his Philly tenure ends with the admission of using a racial slur and a three-game suspension, then it’s really disappointing. I guess the silver lining is that he took responsibility for it, cooperated with the investigation, and didn’t make any sort of denial. Not sure how many points that wins you, but with a lack of detailed information otherwise, fans will have to come to their own conclusions when deciding how he should be remembered for his time in Philly.