new york red bulls Forward Dante Vanzeir has been suspended by Major League Soccer and ordered to undergo mandatory «training and education sessions» after he was accused of using a racial slur during a match against the San Jose Earthquakes over the weekend, he announced. the league on Thursday.
Vanzeir, 24, will miss six MLS games as part of his suspension and will be «barred from participating in the US Open Cup, MLS NEXT Pro games and exhibition matches until the suspension is complete,» he said. the league in a statement.
New York’s Dante Vanzeir during the game against the San Jose Earthquakes on April 8, 2023 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
He belgian footballer he was also fined an undisclosed amount and ordered to undergo «league-mandated training and education sessions.»
RED BULLS FORWARD DANTE VANZEIR LEAVING CLUB ‘UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE’ AFTER USING RACIAL LANGUAGE AT MATCH
The penalty comes just days after San Jose forward Jeremy Ebobisse alleged that a Red Bulls player used a racial slur early in the second half of the 1-1 draw between the two teams at Red Bulls Arena on Saturday. A scuffle ensued, causing a lengthy delay that resulted in 21 minutes of extra time at the end of the match.
While Ebobisse did not name anyone, Vanzeir issued an apology Monday.
New York forward Dante Vanzeir dribbles the ball during the MLS game against Atlanta United FC on April 1, 2023 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
«I accept full responsibility for my actions. While I did not intend to cause any harm or offense with my language, I know I did and I am deeply sorry,» Vanzeir said in a statement provided by the team.
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Vanzeir was allowed to continue playing in the match, a decision manager Gerhard Struber apparently regretted after the fact.
«During our match on Saturday, I made a decision that I thought was the best given the information I had at the time,» he said Monday. «While there was a lot of uncertainty at the time, with the information I now know, the correct decision would have been to immediately remove Dante Vanzeir from the game.»
New York’s Dante Vanzeir during a game against Nashville SC at Red Bull Arena on March 4, 2023 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Ira L. Black – Corbis/Getty Images)
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No disciplinary action was taken against Struber, but the league said in its statement Thursday that it would continue to «review and improve its in-game protocol.»