U.S. Soccer has handed out fines and suspension to three Montreal Impact players and the club’s Technical Director Nick DeSantis for charging and challenging the officials afterthe Impact’s loss to the Carolina RailHawks in the USSF D2 Pro League semifinals.
Upset because of a Carolina goal they thought was offside and a stoppage-time strike of their own that thelinesman did wave offside, DeSantis and the players berated and pursued referee Jose Carlos Rivero and the assistant referees, who were not able to exit by the usual tunnel under the stands andbetween the two benches but were forced to the far corner of the stadium. Former RailHawks COO Jim Houghton and his staff intervened to try to protect the officials. Eventually, Carypolice escorted the referee staff from the stands around the outside of the stadium and to their locker rooms.
U.S. Soccer levied the following suspensions and fines: DeSantis (suspendedfor the next six consecutive professional league matches and fined $1,500); Hicham Aaboubou (four-game suspension, $200); Adam Braz (three games, $300),Richard Pelletier (six games, $500.) The club will be fined $5,000 for failure to control its players and Technical Director.