MLS Major League Soccer

United's Kovalenko Fined & Suspended

May 8, 2003 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


NEW YORK (Thursday, May 08, 2003) – Major League Soccer's Disciplinary Committee today announced that D.C. United midfielder Dema Kovalenko has been fined and suspended as a result of a challenge that resulted in a severe injury to Ronnie O'Brien of the Dallas Burn during a match that occurred on May 3.

Following a thorough investigation by the MLS Disciplinary Committee, Kovalenko has been assessed a fine of $1,000 and suspended for D.C. United's upcoming match against the MetroStars on Saturday, May 10.

The incident occurred in the final minutes of regulation during the 0-0 draw between Dallas and D.C. United at RFK Stadium. During the game, Kovalenko was not whistled for a foul or shown a card for the challenge by match officials. O'Brien suffered a broken right tibia.

The committee reached its decision following a review of videotape evidence and interviews with Kovalenko, O'Brien, the on-site match officials and head coaches of both teams.

A summary of the MLS Disciplinary Committee's findings follows:

Kovalenko's challenge was a desperate attempt to intercept O'Brien's cross. There is no indication that the challenge was intended to be anything other than a play for the ball. In and of itself, therefore, it can not be said to be an egregious play.

The fact that a serious injury resulted from the play is relevant to the Committee. The challenge displayed a technique which placed O'Brien in danger. In particular, the attempted interception was made at high speed and full force, with both of Kovalenko's legs leaving the ground and with his heel leading the challenge.

Because of the egregious nature of the injury to O'Brien, and because it was caused, at least in part, by the nature of Kovalenko's challenge which placed O'Brien in danger, the Committee determined that sanctions were necessary.

The MLS Disciplinary Committee was created to protect the integrity of MLS competition through monitoring both player behavior and referee performance. In accordance with League policy, the Discipline Committee is only empowered to act in contravention of a referee's ruling on the field when a play, or the consequences of a play, are of an egregious or exceptional nature.

Major League Soccer's eighth season continues this weekend with five matches slated for Saturday, including a rematch of MLS Cup 2002, when the defending MLS Champion Los Angeles Galaxy visit the reigning Eastern Conference Champion New England Revolution in a match televised live on ESPN2 (4:00 p.m. ET). Other games scheduled include (all times ET): MetroStars vs. D.C. United (7:30 p.m.), Columbus vs. Colorado (7:30 p.m. - FSW), Chicago vs. San Jose (8:30 p.m.) and Dallas vs. Kansas City (8:30 p.m.).

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