Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey was suspended for three games and fined by Major League Soccer on Friday for what league disciplinary officials determined was his abuse of a referee in a United States Open Cup match this week.
Dempsey, the captain of the United States national team, did not make contact with the official during the incident in overtime on Tuesday night, but he knocked the referee’s notebook from his hand during an argument and then picked it up and tore it to pieces as he walked away.
Dempsey received a red card for his actions, which came in the 111th minute of a game against the Portland Timbers that turned ugly in extra time.