Disciplinary Committee Fines Dwyer, Suspends Espinoza

MLS today announced disciplinary actions from this past weekend's games. KC's name appeared on the report three times this week. First Kansas City and Houston were both found to have violated MLS' mass confrontation policy in the 44th minute when Dom Dwyer challenged Houston goalkeeper, Tyler Deric for a ball in the air. Deric didn't appreciate Dwyer challenging for it when Deric was easily winning the ball. Deric got in Dwyer's face and nudged him with his forearm. Dwyer went down like he'd received a two handed shove. This brought both teams together in Houston's box and referee Jorge Gonzalez handed out a yellow card to both Dywer and Deric for the incident. Dwyer was also fined for his actions in the incident for embellishing the contact made by Deric.

The third incident on the report involves Roger Espinoza and occurred in the 67th minute. Espinoza was racing towards the box after a ball played over the top. Deric came off his line looking to clear the ball, Deric got to the ball first just outside the box and cleared it away. At the same time, Espinoza was lifting his foot to try to touch the ball, over or around Deric. With the bottom of his cleat exposed, Espinoza caught Deric in the shin with his exposed cleats. The disciplinary committee deemed that Espinoza endangered the safety of his opponent and gave Espinoza a fine and a one game suspension, ruling him out for this weekend's clash against Toronto FC along with Dwyer whose yellow card was his fifth of the season.

Speaking of Toronto it appears that they will have forward Jozy Altidore available for this weekend's game against KC. Altidore had been sent off with a red card in Toronto's last game against New England for kicking out at Jose Goncalves. The match report listed Altidore's red card as being for violent conduct, which last year had carried a two game suspension by the league (Toni Dovale had been suspended for his elbow against Alex Lopez of the Houston Dynamo). It appears that is no longer the case and Altidore will serve just the one game suspension and be available for selection this weekend.