The MLS Disciplinary Committee has fined and suspended LA Galaxy midfielder Nigel de Jong for 3 games for his tackle on Portland Timbers’ midfielder Darlington Nagbe in the second-half of the 1-1 draw between the teams at StubHub Center on Sunday.
The Disciplinary Committee was unanimous that the tackle, for which de Jong received a yellow card, was “a clear and unequivocal red card.” Adding that the play was "of an egregious and reckless nature such that the Committee must act to protect player safety," they ruled the suspension, which de Jong will begin serving on Friday, when the Galaxy play at the Houston Dynamo (7 pm ET; UniMas in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada).
He’ll also be barred from LA’s home match against Real Salt Lake on April 23 and their road contest at Sporting Kansas City on May 1. He’ll be eligible to return to play on May 8, when the Galaxy host the New England Revolution.
Nagbe was stretchered off the field following the tackle, and eventually wheeled into the locker room. He suffered an ankle sprain and contusion, and did not play in the Timbers’ 3-1 loss to Dallas on Wednesday. Portland has not yet announced a timetable for his return.
