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Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff Writer
Concacaf announced four individual suspensions and imposed undisclosed fines against the soccer federations of the United States and Mexico after four red cards were issued in the Nations League semifinal to the teams last year. week.
The suspended American players — Weston McKennie (three games) and defender Sergino Dest (two games) — will also serve their punishments during the Gold Cup, according to a US Soccer spokesman, but no one is scheduled to participate in the competition.
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The suspensions will affect Mexico more, with Cesar Montes (three games) and Gerardo Arteaga (two games) out for the start of the Gold Cup. Both players are listed on the team’s official tournament roster.
Montes was issued a straight red in the 69th minute after a serious foul on US striker Folarin Balogun in a June 15 game in Las Vegas, which sparked a brawl that resulted in McKennie being sent off with a torn jersey. Dest and Arteaga picked up their red cards in the 85th minute. The US beat Mexico 3-0 to advance to the final of the Nations League, where they beat Canada 2-0 on Sunday to win their second title.
The U.S. opens its Gold Cup campaign Saturday against Jamaica (9:30 p.m. ET) at Soldier Field in Chicago while The Three starts Sunday against Honduras (8 pm ET) in Houston.
Concacaf also warned that more sanctions could be issued if more incidents occur in the confederation’s national team competitions.
