Can't help but feel for the kids that come to see, maybe their one opportunity in some cases, a player such as a David Beckham and come to find out he's been suspended and will miss the match. Chicago is being punished at the gate, possibly lowering their walk-in attendance. Their fans, particularly the young ones, are being punished at missing the opportunity to see one of the few big draws of the league. Not to mention, MLS loses the opportunity to bring the casual sports fan that is just learning about MLS who may come to his/her only MLS match. Some fans may make the LA match their one match they planned on attending, bringing their whole family. Not trying to make this a boo-hoo moment. Personally, I couldn't give two (you know whats) to see Beckham as I bleed for my team only, regardless of the opponent or opposing star player(s). However, it's a different matter when selling the league to children and trying to reach out to new fans of MLS. Penalize the player's home crowd and home market/games. They could see their star players at another home match...not the AWAY matches/fans of MLS. MLS Discipline procedures should keep the fans in mind when administering them. Now stepping off my soapbox...
That would just encode a double-standard for "special" players that is already bad enough when it's informal.
This idea misses the mark on several levels. Just one of them... most people hate the fact that superstars get different treatment. Doing this would be exactly that -- changing the way things are done because they're stars. Absolutely not. If a guy gets suspended, he misses the next matches on the calendar. You don't make the decisions based on where the games are.
Giving two players such overt special treatment undermines the credibility of the league. They already get *wink, wink* special treatment, because I'm sure if someone other Beckham did what he did at SJ, they would have been suspended for longer. It sucks for those looking forward to Beckham, but if it's about him then it's not about the league. And that's ultimately a bad thing. The best solution would be for someone in the league to tell him to knock it off. He came here accepting that he was going to be an ambassador for the sport, and his constant tempter tantrums at the ref are not within that purview.
By that logic, the refs (and away team) should fix each game so the home team wins. After all, that's what the fans came out to see, right?
Anytime they are suspended for an away match they have to sit on a dunk tank... there problem solved.
I don't think they shouldn't be suspended for away games - they should have to stay on the same continent though (Beckham was at the Wimbledon Men's Final while suspended). Nice work if you can get it.
It seems the NASL did this back in the day. While unfortunate for the team and it's fans that want to see Beckham, whoever, I think MLS has grown past that stage.
I really think that people that think these players who do stupid things that don't cause injuries should get longer suspensions are just rubbing themselves in too much pointless sokker news.
I disagree with the OP, but can't they get enjoyment out of seeing their local team beat the big-time celebrity circus? I know I do.
I disagree with the OP about those Suspension should be only on home games. I would say that an answer might be that all players on DP contracts should have to travel with their team when suspended and go to the match.
as stated, the rules should be the same for everyone. second, the home teams could, you know, go out and spend on a name brand player as well. if you want to feel bad for local kids, feel bad for them because their local team is depending on another team to fill their stadium instead of making the most of the constricted spending they are allowed.