After their first-round playoff game earlier this month, Major League Soccer suspended FC Cincinnati defender Matt Miazga for three matches following his alleged confrontation with officials.
Miazga was officially suspended and fined on Wednesday for “misconduct” after a Nov. 4 win over the New York Red Bulls. He, the league’s Defender of the Year, must also undergo a behavioral assessment through MLS’s Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program.
The suspension begins immediately, affecting Saturday’s Eastern Conference Final match against the Columbus Crew, and carries over into the 2024 season.
FC Cincinnati advanced in the playoffs by defeating the Red Bulls earlier this month. Booked three times over those two matches, Miazga, a former Red Bulls player, received one for dissent after the match’s end.
Following the game, Miazga allegedly entered the officials’ locker room. The Professional Soccer Referees Association reported that an unidentified player “was forcibly removed by stadium security while acting in an aggressive and hostile manner.” Video evidence, according to ESPN, showed Miazga entering the referee locker room to try and speak with Rivas.
Consequently, an MLS investigation led to his suspension on Wednesday.
Miazga, 28, is in his second season with Cincinnati. He began his career with the Red Bulls from 2013-15 before spending seven seasons playing in Europe, which included stints with Chelsea in the Premier League and Alavés in La Liga.
Cincinnati and Columbus will face off on Saturday afternoon. The winner will take on the victor of the Western Conference Final between LAFC and the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup Final next week.
