Former Chelsea defender Matt Miazga has seen his suspension extended to three games - along with a hefty fine - after he entered the officials locker room during an MLS playoffs tie.
The centre back, who currently plies his trade at FC Cincinnati, was handed the ban following the team's clash against New York Red Bulls on November 4. The game saw Miazga receive two yellow cards following a dramatic 1-1 draw. The game went to a tense penalty shootout with Cincinnati coming out victorious 7-8.
Following the game the Professional Soccer Referees Association (PSRA) made a call for action to be taken against a player who had to be “forcibly removed” from the locker room. The player, who has since been named as Miazga, "gained unauthorized entry into the officials' locker room" and behaved "in an aggressive and hostile manner."
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A report via The Athletic claimed that Miazga wanted to speak to the referees after the game about the two yellow cards he received. The first yellow was awarded after he argued with the referee, Victor Rivas, following the decision to overturn Sergio Santos' last-minute goal that would have won the game.
The second booking came during the penalty shootout when Miazga was deemed to have antagonised the opposing fans and clashed with Red bull goalkeeper Carlos Coronel.
Despite the two bookings Miazga was not sent off as the penalty shootout is deemed to be a separate incident from the game. The 28-year-old was, however, suspended for the team's next conference semi-final match against Philadelphia Union because of a booking in a prior game - which the team won 1-0.
Matt Miazga joined FC Cincinnati in August 2022 (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images)Miazga's suspension will see him miss the team's next game against Columbus in the Eastern Conference final on Saturday, December 3.
Despite his three game suspension following the ruling, FC Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan believes that details of Miazga's confrontation against New York Red Bulls has been blow out of proportion.
“It’s an hour and a half after the game, he’s got a pizza box in his hand,” Noonan said as quote by The Athletic. “I think people have this notion that he was in his cleats, running into that room. It’s been fabricated, what happened. That part’s also disturbing. Hopefully we can come to a conclusion that has him back on the field.”
Miazga started his football career in MLS with the New York Red Bulls. His two-year stint with the team saw a move to Chelsea materialise in a reported £3.5million transfer deal.
The New Jersey-born defender would only go on to play twice with the Blues before joining a spell of European clubs on loan, including Vitesse, Nantes, Reading, Anderlecht and Alaves.
Miazga returned to the United States to sign with FC Cincinnati on August 2022 on a three-and-a-half-year deal. The defender has 48 appearances, two goals and one assist for the MLS side. He was also named as a 2023 MLS All Star and named the 2023 MLS Defender of the Year after Cincinnati finished top of the Eastern Conference.
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