"U.S. Soccer has a well-established hearing process to consider these types of situations. We're satisfied the hearing panel did their job and that the punishment is consistent with past, similar incidents."

-- D.C. United President Kevin Payne on the U.S. Soccer Federation banning Chicago Fire star Cuauhtemoc Blanco from U.S. Open Cup play for two years for his involvement in a scuffle with D.C. United in a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal July 8. After being red-carded, Blanco refused to leave the field in a timely manner and allegedly headbutted a United operations official. (Washington Post)