Sigi Schmid suspended, fined by MLS for referee comments

Sigi Schmid is furious at halftime of the recent Seattle match against Real Salt Lake. (Wilson Tsoi)

NEW YORK – Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber on Friday suspended Seattle Sounders FC Coach Sigi Schmid for one game and fined him $2,000 for inappropriate public comments about the officials during and after his team’s game against Real Salt Lake on Oct. 17.

“Sigi Schmid’s comments earlier this week about the officiating were unacceptable,” Garber said. “MLS requires that its players, coaches, and club leadership maintain proper respect for the officials at all times,” said a short league website release.

Schmid had been unhappy with the calls of lead official Ricardo Salazar in Seattle’s 0:0 stand0ff with RSL at CenturyLink Field. In his customary brief check-in with Sounders broadcasters at halftime of that match he called Salazar RSL’s “12th man. (video)”

There appears to be an ongoing feud of sorts between Schmid and Salazar, whom the Sounders have seen six times this year, more than any other official.

All-time with Salazar as the lead the Sounders have only three losses, one of which came in the 2012 US Open Cup final in Kansas City in a penalty shootout. In 17 matches since 2009 Seattle is 8-3-6 (W-L-D) when Salazar is in charge.

Schmid was unhappy with a first-half double yellow that ejected defender Zach Scott, followed before the break by a non-call handball that replays suggested was a correct decision.

Today MLS acted on Sigi Schmid’s comments towards referee Ricardo Salazar (center). (Wilson Tsoi)

About these ads