The goalless Seattle Sounders (0-3) were handed a major blow Thursday afternoon when the MLS Disciplinary Committee announced that Sounders forward Clint Dempsey had received an extra game suspension for the red card he received on March 18th against FC Dallas.
Dempsey has issued a red card for violent conduct in the 37th minute of the game and the assumption was that Dempsey would serve a one-game suspension. Dempsey sat out the Sounders next game a 1-0 home loss to the Montreal Impact and the prevailing thought was that Dempsey would return for Saturday’s game at Western Conference leaders Sporting Kansas City (4-1-1, 13points).
According to sources, the Sounders were alerted by MLS that Dempsey’s could receive additional disciplinary action. When the discussion between the league and the Sounders occurred is not clear. What is known is that a winless Sounder team that has more red cards than goals will be missing its main striker in the Sporting game.
The Sounders have not scored a goal in the three MLS games they have played this so far this season. The Sounders are the only MLS team without a goal in MLS league play.
