The MLS Disciplinary Committee has suspended Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Masato Kudo for one game and issued an undisclosed fine for simulation/embellishment (VIDEO). The decision led to a penalty kick in the 22nd minute of Vancouver’s game against the Houston Dynamo on March 26. The penalty was converted by Pedro Morales as the lone goal in a 1-0 Whitecaps win.
“It doesn’t come as a surprise to me,” Dynamo head coach Owen Coyle said. “I said in my press conference (on Saturday) never in a million years was that even close to being a penalty. We all knew that the player had thrown himself to the ground when he had no chance of reaching the ball. It doesn’t help us get any points, because ultimately that’s what decided the game. It is frustrating, but the biggest thing is I would hope that everyone sees that for what it is. We don’t want that in our game. If somebody beats you, then you’re beat fair and square. We want everything to be with the correct sporting integrity. That goes against the principles of the game and everything we stand for.
“I am actually glad that something has been done about it because we have to stamp it out. I am a huge advocate for how MLS is growing, but we don’t need people coming into the game to bring it into disrepute, because that’s what it is for me. We have the beautiful game – the best game in the world – and stuff like that doesn’t enhance the game, it only lets people nitpick. It’s a form of cheating; there is no getting away from it.”
The Dynamo are off this weekend and will open an important two-game homestand starting Sunday, April 10 against the Seattle Sounders (TICKETS) followed by the LA Galaxy on Friday, April 15.
