Toronto FC coach says one-game suspension for defender Carlos Salcedo is ‘harsh’

TORONTO – The MLS Disciplinary Committee’s determination to ban Toronto FC defender Carlos Salcedo one recreation for a sort out that solely earned a yellow card from the referee is “harsh,” based on Toronto coach Bob Bradley.

“I don’t even suppose the AR (assistant referee) referred to as the foul,” Bradley mentioned after coaching Thursday. “It’s early within the 12 months (and) there’s a bent generally early within the 12 months to be on prime of this stuff extra. If that’s the best way it’s going to be accomplished, then I hope there’s consistency all year long.”

Wednesday’s announcement of a suspension, arising from Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the visiting New York Purple Bulls, deprives Bradley of his star defender at Columbus on Saturday. The Mexican centre again, in the meantime, has discovered concerning the lengthy arm of the MLS regulation in simply his second recreation within the league.

The incident in query got here within the sixtieth minute, deep in Toronto’s finish. The ball squirted in the direction of the sideline with Purple Bulls ahead Patryk Klimala corralling it simply earlier than it went out close to the nook flag.

Salcedo’s lunging sort out caught Klimala on the ft of the assistant referee, who merely put his flag up for a Purple Bulls throw-in. With the Polish ahead writhing in ache, referee Rubiel Vazquez reached for his yellow card as Salcedo protested.

Replays confirmed the Mexican worldwide, no stranger to sliding tackles, received the highest of the ball along with his proper foot which then slid up and took Klimala’s legs out.

Vazquez subsequently reviewed the play on a pitch-side monitor on the behest of the video assistant referee, Canadian Carol Anne Chenard. At regular pace, it seemed like a nasty, lunging studs-up problem — and pointless given Klimala was penned in on the nook — however Vazquez opted to maintain the crimson card in his pocket and Salcedo was allowed to proceed.

In asserting the suspension Wednesday for “critical foul play,” MLS cited MLS Disciplinary Committee Parameter 3 which permits a ban “on incidents through which the Skilled Referee Group acknowledges an on-field referee/video assistant referee (VAR) error.”

“The incident in query should be, within the unanimous opinion of the (Disciplinary) committee from all obtainable proof: a transparent and unequivocal crimson card,” the league mentioned.

Salcedo, who has received 48 caps for Mexico and performed membership soccer in Italy and Germany in addition to his native nation, was additionally fined an undisclosed quantity.

A fierce defender, the Mexican’s nickname is El Titan.

Bradley mentioned he had been alerted by the league that the play was underneath assessment and had spoken to league officers “simply when it comes to the consistency about which performs now get flagged and why and that type of factor, as a result of I’ve seen some others that to me warranted possibly a re-examination that haven’t acquired something.”

Added Bradley: “It’s all the time fascinating when PRO comes out and says a mistake was made as a result of I feel there are different moments when a mistake is made and PRO doesn’t acknowledge. That’s what I imply once I say consistency.

“It’s early within the season so let’s see how the remaining goes.”

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This report by The Canadian Press was first printed March 10, 2022.