Sporting Kansas City defender Amadou Dia was suspended a game and fined an undisclosed amount for reckless back-the-back tackles from Minnesota United midfielder Emanuele Reynoso during Sunday’s 2-1 win over the Loons Was.
The MLS Disciplinary Committee ruled on Tuesday, and Dia will serve the ban on Wednesday and miss the team’s game against Austin FC.
Loons player and manager Adrian Heath was outraged, with referee Victor Rivas giving Dia only a yellow card during the match. Considering how harsh the tackle was, a one-match ban may not seem like a fair punishment for Minnesota.
GIF: #MNUFC Player and manager Adrian Heath was furious about how #sportingKC Amadou Dia was given the yellow card only by referee Victor Rivas for this dangerous tackle. NS #loons The best player was not seriously hurt, but was out shortly after the hit. pic.twitter.com/W217jjAp48
— andy grader (@andygrader) 31 October 2021
United and its supporters are grateful that Reynoso was not seriously injured when his right leg was awkwardly bent backward in the takedown. Heath said Reynoso has a few “bumps and bruises” from the Loons’ intense 5-game, 16-day stretch, but is expected to return for the regular season finale against the Los Angeles Galaxy on November 7.
“He’s got some nice paint on his feet, let’s just say that,” Heath said. “… Ray is one lucky guy to have done nothing, and did more damage, because it could have been a very serious incident.”
