USA midfielder Jermaine Jones suspended six matches for Geiger incident

By Kyle McCarthy
Published

MLS suspended Jermaine Jones for six matches and handed him an undisclosed fine on Friday after the USA midfielder made physical contact with referee Mark Geiger during a Knockout Round match on Oct. 28.

Jones raced to confront Geiger after he waved away shouts for a penalty kick in the dying embers of New England's season-ending 2-1 defeat at D.C. United. The veteran midfielder, 34, placed his hands on Geiger and made contact with him several times as he expressed his displeasure. Geiger sent Jones off for his conduct and sparked the disciplinary inquiry in the process.

Jones opted to appeal the initial six-match suspension -- a suspension identical to the one handed to D.C. United forward Fabian Espindola for confronting an assistant referee during the 2014 postseason -- through the MLS Players Union. MLS commissioner Don Garber heard the appeal and upheld the suspension, according to a league release.

The decision raises questions about Jones' availability for the U.S. national team at the start of next year. Jones' actions are classified as referee assault, according to a specific section in the U.S. Soccer policy manual. The corresponding six-match, unpaid suspension also prevents Jones from featuring for the national team until the ban is served.

Jones' contractual status further complicates the issue. His 18-month deal with the Revolution expires at the end of the calendar year. He is weighing potential options for the future, though his exact destination remains uncertain at this time.

If Jones signs a new deal with MLS, then his suspension starts at the outset of the 2016 regular season in March. The timing ensures he will miss the expected pair of games in the annual January camp and suggests he will also miss the World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala on March 25 (Guatemala City) and 29 (Columbus, Ohio) as well.

If Jones signs in another country, then his suspension carries over to his new team, per FIFA guidelines, and starts in the first league game after he is registered. The timing in that instance still rules him out of the January matches, but it likely ensures his availability for the dates against Guatemala.

Sporting Kansas City forward Krisztian Nemeth also received a one-match suspension for kicking the ball into the head of a prone Lucas Melano during a Knockout Round game against Portland Timbers on Oct. 29. Nemeth received a yellow card for his actions during the match. He will serve his suspension in the first match of the 2016 season.