U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley has been suspended for four games by FIFA, soccer’s governing body, for “committing acts of misconduct against opponents and match officials” in the USA’s 2-0 upset of Spain on June 24, a FIFA spokesman has confirmed to SI.com. But Bradley will still be available for the USA’s World Cup qualifier at Mexico on Aug. 12 because he can serve his suspension during the current CONCACAF Gold Cup (even though Bradley isn’t on the roster). Bradley served the first game of his suspension in the U.S. loss to Brazil in the final of the Confederations Cup.
Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda gave Bradley a red card in the 87th minute against Spain for a tackle on Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso. The Spanish publication AS reported that Bradley confronted Larrionda in the tunnel after the game. Other details in the AS report, however, have not been validated. The Spanish report claimed that Bradley tried to “assault” or “attack” Larrionda, an allegation not supported by Fifa’s investigation.
Fifa did not release the details of Bradley’s misconduct, but it did say that he breached articles 48 and 49 of the Disciplinary Code. Article 48 addresses misconduct against opponents, while article 49 references misconduct against match officials. Article 49 requires a ban of “at least four matches for unsporting conduct toward a match official.”