- Wagner will not be part of the team’s second first-round playoff game
- This was yet another in a long line of racist incidents to hit MLS
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Major League Soccer announced that Philadelphia Union defender Kai Wagner would receive a three-match suspension for allegedly violating the league’s anti-discrimination policy.
“The suspension is effective immediately and Wagner will be unavailable for the Philadelphia Union match on Wednesday, November 8 against the New England Revolution and the Union’s subsequent two MLS matches,” the league said in a statement.
‘If Philadelphia Union is eliminated this season before the suspension is completed, it will be carried over to the first match of the following season.
“Wagner must also continue to participate in league-mandated education and training sessions, a process that has already begun, and remain fully compliant with a program led by a league-appointed recovery practices expert.
“In making this decision, MLS considered many factors, including Wagner’s immediate acceptance of responsibility, willingness to engage in a remedial process to repair the damage caused, and his cooperation with the league’s investigation.”
Kai Wagner has been suspended for three matches after making racist comments against an opponent
Union manager Jim Curtin revealed that Wagner had not traveled with the team to New England for their second game of the first round hours before the decision was made.
This incident allegedly occurred in the 88th minute of the Union’s first MLS Cup Playoff match of the season – when Wagner got into a verbal altercation with New England Revolution forward Bobby Wood.
Wagner allegedly used a slur traditionally used against Asian people, according to The Athletic.
Wood was born to a black father and a mother of partial Japanese ancestry. Wagner hails from Germany, where Wood played the majority of his youth and first-team career from 2007-2021.
At the time of the alleged incident, Wood is seen speaking briefly to Wagner and then running to referee Pierre-Luc Lauziere to animatedly inform him of something.
The referee took no immediate action as a shoving match occurred between Wagner and one of Wood’s Revolution teammates.
This match ended as normal and according to reports, neither side was informed of what happened until after the end of the match.
Kai Wagner (second right) allegedly made a racist comment to Bobby Wood (right) during their match last Saturday. The players are pictured above during an earlier incident during the game
Taxi Fontas was released by DC United earlier this year after a second racism storm
NYRB forward Dante Vanzeir returned to the field in May after a six-match suspension
This is just another incident of racism that has created a black cloud over the league this season, as several incidents have occurred this season.
New York Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir was suspended six games in early April for using racist language against a San Joe Earthquakes opponent.
Earthquakes forward Jeremy Ebobisse alleged that an RBNY player – later revealed to be Vanzeir – made racist comments early in the second half of a 1-1 draw at Red Bull Arena. This led to a scuffle, which resulted in a lengthy delay and more than 20 minutes of extra time.
Additionally, DC United has been at the center of multiple incidents involving one of their strikers, Taxi Fontas.
Fountas was accused of racially abusing Inter Miami defender Damion Lowe in a scuffle, before doing the same to one of his teammates: Nigel Robertha.
DC United have terminated Fountas’ contract and he now plays for Trabzonspor in Turkey.