Chivas USA forward Marcos Mondaini will serve a four-game suspension and pay a $1,500 fine for his foul that left Real Salt Lake star
Why wasMondaini’s punishment less than Mullan’s? RSL coach Jason Kreis said after the game that the foul from behind outside the penalty area was not the most flagrantfoul and added that “I really don’t think it was that egregious.”
“The disciplinary committee unanimously agreed that Marcos Mondaini’s tackle on Javier Morales was reckless andendangered the safety of his opponent, hence the total suspension of four games and total fine of $1,500,” Nelson Rodriguez, the MLS executive vice president ofcompetition, technical and game operations, told mlssoccer.com. “The existence of aserious injury alone, however, does not mandate supplemental discipline of a certain level. The circumstances of each play are examined in great detail and discussed at length.”
Rodriguezdescribed “Mondaini’s tackle as late, clumsy, and from behind. It was also, however, seen as an attempt to prevent his opponent from scoring.” By contrast, Rodriguez said the disciplinary committeebelieved Mullan’s tackle on Zakuani “did not serve such a purpose,” and that Mullan’s tackle “showed utter disregard for his opponent’s safety and appeared to be driven by anger.”