Raul Ruidiaz suspended for Galaxy game

The Seattle Sounders will be without ace goal scorer Raul Ruidiaz against the LA Galaxy because he has been given a one game suspension by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for violent conduct. The situation in question came about in the 54th minute of Wednesday’s game against the Portland Timbers, when defender Pablo Bonilla initially fouled Ruidiaz by pulling his jersey back. That action caused Ruidiaz and Bonilla to get tangled, and it appears that Raul kicked out in frustration.

During the match, if you remember, referee Alan Chapman went to review the incident on the VAR monitor. He deemed that both players were deserving of only a yellow card for their actions. Despite this, the MLS Disciplinary Committee deemed that this offense was worthy of a one match suspension. From the league press release:

“The play was reviewed under Disciplinary Committee Parameter #3, in which the Disciplinary Committee may act where the Professional Referees Organization (PRO) acknowledges an on-field referee or Video Review error, and where the Committee is unanimous that the play warrants at least a one match suspension as a clear and unequivocal red card, is egregious and/or repeat behavior in nature, and/or the Committee must act to protect player safety or the integrity of the game (VIDEO).”

According to new rules implemented by MLS & PRO this offseason, the Disciplinary Committee can suspended a player for one game if PRO admits to having committed an error in not sending a player off after a VAR review.

It’s likely that the Sounders will start Will Bruin in place of the suspended Ruidiaz on Sunday.