- Australian midfielder suspended for two matches
- Allegedly used offensive language that was not racist
- Australian football fans have ridiculed the ban
Australians have reacted in typical Australian fashion after a star Socceroos player was suspended in the United States for allegedly throwing a C-bomb at an opponent.
Patrick Yazbek has been suspended for two games and ordered to complete a “rehabilitation program” after violating Major League Soccer’s anti-discrimination policy.
The Socceroos midfielder was overlooked for selection for upcoming World Cup qualifiers and was instead playing for MLS club Nashville when the incident occurred.
Play was stopped for five minutes as officials tried to decide what to do after the Australian allegedly called an opposing player a ‘****’.
Yazbek committed a foul on Austin midfielder Owen Wolff in the 30th minute and appeared to say something to either Wolff or Austin defender Dani Pereira on his way back onto the field.
Referee Rosendo Mendoza decided almost immediately to stop the game and after five minutes Yazbek was replaced by Jonathan Pérez.
The MLS has confirmed the suspension.
“In making decisions under this policy, MLS considers many factors, including the player’s prompt acceptance of responsibility for the harm caused by the misconduct, willingness to engage in a remedial process, and cooperation with the league’s review body,” the league said in a statement.
Australian Socceroos midfielder Patrick Yazbek has been suspended for two matches by MLS for using offensive language
According to Football Australia, Yazbek’s recent non-selection for the Socceroos had nothing to do with the alleged insult
Nashville SC released a statement after the game admitting that the league was investigating Yazbek for “using offensive language,” but has not commented further.
Although the swear word is widely used in Australia, especially during sporting events, it is considered an extreme insult in other countries, such as the United States.
However, Australians, who have even used the word in tourism marketing for the Northern Territory, could not understand the severe punishment for the perceived use of the swear word.
“I know 90% of A-league players would be banned 100% if this went through,” one posted.
“What a soft league. The C-word can be used as a term of endearment here in Australia,” posted another.
“Isn’t this discrimination against his culture?” asked another.
Australia has used this cheeky slogan as a marketing tactic for the Northern Territory
There were many soccer fans who questioned MLS over the incident, including American supporters.
“Who is he discriminating against anyway?” one asked.
“MLS continues to break new ground in its never-ending quest to become the most shameless league in the world,” wrote another.
“That’s ridiculous. The NBA wouldn’t have any players if swearing was banned,” another added.
However, it is also reported that the swear word was not the only component of the insult, which is why MLS took tough action against the Australian midfielder.
“Given that he was suspended under the anti-discrimination policy and not for offensive, insulting or abusive language, perhaps the c-word was only part of the problem,” one supporter wrote.
Socceroos boss Graham Arnold has spoken to Yazbek about the incident
Yazbek was absent for the Socceroos’ upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Bahrain (Thursday night, Gold Coast) and Indonesia (September 10, Jakarta).
But a Football Australia spokesperson said the recent MLS suspension was not the reason Yazbek was overlooked.
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has reportedly spoken to Yazbek since the incident.
Yazbek made his debut for the Socceroos in Australia’s 5-0 win over Lebanon on March 26.
However, he was not selected for the Socceroos squad for the June matches against Bangladesh and Palestine.