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USMNT’s Weston McKennie, Sergiño Dest suspended for Mexico melee

June 24, 2023

MIAMI — American midfielder Weston McKennie and defender Sergiño Dest were suspended by CONCACAF from matches they weren’t scheduled to play in, a result of their ejections from the Nations League semifinal against Mexico.

CONCACAF on Friday said that McKennie must serve a four-game suspension and Dest a three-game ban as a result of on-field conduct during the June 15 game. Mexican defender César Montes also was given a four-match suspension and defender Gerardo Arteaga was given a three-match ban.

Dest and McKennie are not on the roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which starts Saturday. The U.S. Soccer Federation on June 12 announced a mostly junior varsity roster for the tournament, and the USSF said those games will count toward the suspension.

Montes and Arteaga are on Mexico’s Gold Cup roster.

CONCACAF’s discipline statement did not mention the homophobic chants by Mexican supporters that caused Salvadoran referee Iván Barton to end the June 15 match early. CONCACAF said after the game that it “strongly condemns the discriminatory chanting” and “will make a further statement in short order.”

CONCACAF general secretary Philippe Moggio did not respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Montes was issued a straight red in the 69th minute after a harsh foul on U.S. striker Folarin Balogun in the June 15 match in Las Vegas, which sparked a melee that resulted in McKennie getting sent off with a ripped jersey. Dest and Arteaga picked up red cards in the 85th minute. The Americans beat Mexico, 3-0, to advance to the Nations League final, where they defeated Canada, 2-0, last Sunday to win a second title.

CONCACAF said the penalties were based on Nations League regulations and FIFA’s disciplinary code but did not cite specific provisions.

CONCACAF also fined the USSF and the Mexican Football Federation but did not announce the amount. It threatened “more severe sanctions could be taken should incidents occur during their upcoming matches.”

The U.S. opens its Gold Cup campaign Saturday against Jamaica (6:30 p.m. PT, FS1, TUDN) at Chicago’s Soldier Field while El Tri kicks off on Sunday against Honduras (5 p.m. PT) in Houston.

Orange County Register

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USMNT’s Weston McKennie, Sergiño Dest suspended for Mexico melee

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