MLS suspends Sounders MF Shalrie Joseph, because hitting people in the face is wrong

Sounders midfielder Shalrie Joseph knew he wasn’t going to be able to play in Saturday’s game against Chivas USA, the result of the red card he received late in last weekend’s 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the LA Galaxy.

Well on Friday Major League Soccer announced that an extra game and a fine have been added to Joseph’s punishment, meaning he’ll miss Seattle’s June 8 game against Vancouver as well.

The league’s disciplinary committee “Unanimously determined that the act was egregious, involving contact above the shoulders that endangered the safety of his opponent, and required further sanction.”

In other words, hitting dudes in the head is frowned upon in this establishment.

Joseph’s suspension comes at a bad time for Seattle, as midfielder Brad Evans is away with the U.S. National team, and Osvaldo Alonso is nursing an adductor strain and is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game.

Here’s the video of Joseph’s foul on Galaxy midfielder Marcelo Sarvas. And in Joseph’s defense, Sarvas did sorta run into him. Then again, Joseph probably didn’t need to be quite as aggressive when Sarvas did run into him.

And here’s a video of how I like to think Joseph reacted to news of his suspension.

“Was that wrong? Should I not have done that?”