Football
ESPN staff 8y

Whitecaps' Masato Kudo suspended for diving before game-winning penalty

Major League Soccer suspended Vancouver Whitecaps forward Masato Kudo for one game for diving on the play that led to his team's winning penalty against the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.

Kudo went to ground in front of Dynamo defender Jalil Anibaba but referee David Gantar pointed to the penalty spot, and Pedro Morales converted to give his team the 1-0 win.

Despite the ruling on the field, the league suspended Kudo for this Saturday's match against the LA Galaxy and fined the striker an undisclosed amount "for simulation/embellishment."

Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson said he saw contact on the play but accepted the league's ruling.

"It is what it is. There was contact in the play," he said. "They adjudged that there was not enough contact to make him go over, and they made the decision to ban him and I respect that decision.

"I don't condone diving, I won't condone diving, so I've let the group know that. But there was contact. We'll take it, accept it and move on."

Dynamo coach Owen Coyle said he was not surprised with the league's decision.

"I said in my press conference [on Saturday] never in a million years was that even close to being a penalty," Coyle said. "We all knew that the player had thrown himself to the ground when he had no chance of reaching the ball.

"It doesn't help us get any points, because ultimately that's what decided the game. It is frustrating, but the biggest thing is I would hope that everyone sees that for what it is. We don't want that in our game.

"If somebody beats you, then you're beat fair and square. We want everything to be with the correct sporting integrity. That goes against the principles of the game and everything we stand for."

The league also fined but did not suspend FC Dallas' Ryan Hollingshead for diving against D.C. United, while D.C.'s Marcelo Sarvas also received a fine for failing to leave the pitch after his red card on Saturday.

^ Back to Top ^