New England Soccer Today

Report: Jones’ Outburst May Warrant Int’l Ban

Photo credit: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com

Photo credit: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com

It’s all but a given that Revolution midfielder Jermaine Jones will receive a lengthy suspension from the MLS Disciplinary Committee for his actions against Mark Geiger on Wednesday. But it turns out he could face a ban at the National Team level, as well.

According a report from The Washington Post, the 33-year-old midfielder could be subject to an international ban if MLS decides that Jones is in violation of U.S. Soccer’s Professional Leagues Policy Against Referee Assault.

Should MLS hand down an Assault Suspension – which applies when a player is guilty of “striking, kicking, choking, grabbing or bodily running into a referee; spitting on a referee with ostensible intent to do so; kicking or throwing an object at an official that could inflict injury; or damaging the referee’s uniform or personal property (e.g., car, uniform or equipment)” – he may find himself unavailable for the early stages of the U.S.’s World Cup Qualifying campaign.

If the league believes that Jones’ actions do not meet the criteria for the above, they could also hand down an Abuse Suspension, which applies when a player is  guilty of “verbal and nonverbal communication which contains foul or abusive language and which implies or directly threatens physical harm.”

 

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