CHICAGO — Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey has been given a minimum two-year suspension from the U.S. Open Cup and a second fine for his conduct toward a referee during a game last week.
The penalty announced Thursday by a U.S. Soccer Federation panel was in addition to a three-game league ban and fine announced last week by Major League Soccer.
The second penalty, issued by the U.S. Open Cup Adjudication and Discipline Panel, covers up to six U.S. Open Cup games. If the Sounders lose their initial game each year, the penalty would last through 2021.
Dempsey was punished for a confrontation with a referee June 16 in the Sounders’ fourth-round loss to rival Portland, when he grabbed a notebook from the official and tore it after a teammate was given a red card.
The USSF says the panel met Tuesday and Dempsey waived his right to appeal.
Dempsey tears up referee’s notebook (Video) >>
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@ESPNFC
