Joseph was cautioned for the mistimed tackle during the game, but he now faces a far stiffer punishment.
Major League Soccer’s newly formed disciplinary committee retroactively fined and suspended Joseph on Tuesday. The Revs captain will miss New England’s next game — Saturday’s meeting with longtime rival D.C. United.
There is no appeals process for the punishment.
The MLS disciplinary committee reviews each game and uses its discretion to hand out disciplinary measures.
The committee unanimously concluded that Joseph’s tackle should have punished with “a clear and unequivocal red card,” and “the play in question is of an egregious or reckless nature, such that the committee must act to protect player safety or the integrity of the game.”
Joseph becomes the latest recipient of its retroactive justice. Last week it issued suspensions to four players. FC Dallas’ Jair Benitez and D.C. United’s Danny Cruz were fined and suspended for violent conduct and play-acting, respectively. D.C.’s Brandon McDonald was punished for a reckless challenge during the same March 30 game. Vancouver’s Atiba Harris was fined and suspended for elbowing Philadelphia’s Carlos Valdes.
See Joseph’s tackle on Villar in the video below.
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Photo via Flickr/nerevolution
