Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia has been suspended for one match by the MLS Disciplinary Committee following his “Rock Bottom” foul on Seattle Sounders’ Cristian Roldan.
Following a goal mouth scramble during the teams’ match on Saturday, Melia wrapped his right arm around Roldan’s shoulders and drove him to the ground but avoided a red card.
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The incident was reminiscent of WWE icon The Rock’s famous finishing move “the Rock Bottom” and the film star tweeted about the incident.
“�� this is called delivering a devastating, “Rock Bottom” �������� + I assume player in green got up and fought his ass off, unless he got his bell rung. + I also assume there was a card delivered in the red color palette ��,” The Rock’s tweet read.
💯 this is called delivering a devastating, “Rock Bottom” 👏🏾👏🏾
+ I assume player in green got up and fought his ass off, unless he got his bell rung.
+ I also assume there was a card delivered in the red color palette 🤣 https://t.co/anvlN9Sx5T— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) October 23, 2021
As well as the suspension, Melia was issued with an undisclosed fine.
“The MLS Disciplinary Committee has suspended Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia for one match and issued and undisclosed fine for violent conduct following his actions in the 56th minute of Sporting Kansas City’s match against Seattle Sounders FC on Oct. 23,2 A Major League Soccer statement read. “The play was reviewed under MLS Disciplinary Committee Parameter 3, where the match officials see an incident, and do not issue a red card.
“Under Parameter 3, the MLS Disciplinary Committee shall issue either a one-match suspension on incidents in which the Professional Referee Organization acknowledges an on-field Referee/Video Assistant Referee (VAR) error and the Committee is unanimous at red card and one match or the MLS Disciplinary Committee shall issue a two or more match suspension on incidents in which discipline warrants at least a two-match suspension.
“The incident in question must be, in the unanimous opinion of the Committee from all available evidence: a clear and unequivocal red card; and egregious or repeat behavior in nature, and/or such that the MLS Disciplinary Committee must act to protect player safety or the integrity of the game; and/or clear and obvious simulation/embellishment.
“Melia will serve his one match suspension on Oct. 27 during Sporting Kansas City’s match against the LA Galaxy.”