CARSON, Calif. – Diego Chara was issued an undisclosed fine, but there will be no other developments from the controversial sequences that saw Jelle Van Damme ejected from the LA Galaxy’s 1-0 defeat to the Portland Timbers.
The MLS Disciplinary Committee ruled on Wednesday that Chara was guilty of simulation/embellishment for his action that led to Van Damme’s first yellow card in the 31st minute of Sunday’s game. The act of embellishment resulted in an undisclosed fine for the Timbers midfielder.
However, the league’s disciplinary body chose to not take any action against Timbers midfielder David Guzman. Head referee Baldomero Toledo stated after the match that “Van Damme attempted to trip Guzmán which stopped a promising attack” in the 34th minute and then “avoided the contact and fell awkwardly" on the sequence that resulted in the Belgian's ejection.
“The Disciplinary Committee could not unanimously determine whether Guzman engaged in an obvious act of simulation/embellishment or if he went to ground in an effort to avoid contact with Van Damme,” the league’s Disciplinary Committee said in a statement.
Van Damme remains suspended for the Galaxy’s clash with Real Salt Lake this Saturday. After training on Wednesday and before the league’s announcement, Galaxy boss Curt Onalfo said the suspension was unfortunate.
“It was clear that he didn’t make contact with either of them,” Onalfo told reporters. “It’s unfortunate, but he didn’t make contact. It was crystal clear on the replay, but it’s unfortunate.”
