The MLS disciplinary committee cleared Colorado Rapids star Marcelo Balboa of any wrongdoing in the matter of the Los Angeles Galaxy’s Dan Calichman, who suffered a broken leg in the MLS match May 6. The committee issued the folloiwng statement: “We have spent many hours reviewing the videotape evidence of the challenge in the game between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Colorado Rapids on May 6, 1998, which led to the injury of Dan Calichman, the captain of the Los Angeles Galaxy and one of the league’s most respected and experienced players. “We are cognizant of our role to protect all of our players from injury, but we can find no evidence that Colorado Rapids midfielder Marcelo Balboa had any intent to injure in making the challenge, which was directed solely at the ball. The collision which occurred was, in our opinion, a very unfortunate accident. “This conclusion is supported not only by a close review of the videotape evidence, but also by the referee on the spot, who did not see the challenge as a foul and issued no caution in respect of it. In the circumstances, we do not believe that any sanction is appropriate against Mr. Balboa.” Calichman underwent surgery Friday morning to repair both the tibia and fibula bones in his right leg. In the two-hour operation, orthopedic surgeon Ron Kvitne, the Galaxy team doctor, and trauma surgeon Robert Chandler inserted a metal rod into Calichman’s leg. Calichman is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to the 4-5 month rehabilitation period necessary to heal the leg. “Everything went as well as expected,” said Dr. Kvitne after the surgery. “He did great and we’re expecting a full recovery.” Calichman suffered the injury in a tackle by Balboa. The pair collided going after a loose ball in the Galaxy’s defensive third. Balboa’s cleats smashed into Calichman’s shin, breaking the tibia and fibula. “I definitely do [think it was intentional],” Calichman told the Long Beach Press-Telegram. “I don’t think the intent was to break my leg, but it was a horrible tackle. He went in over the ball with a lot of force. He could have backed off and he didn’t; he intentionally went in that way.” “I feel very bad about the injury Dan has suffered,” Balboa said in a statement issued the day after the game. “The play was just a 50-50 ball which we were both going for, and there was absolutely no malicious intent on my part at all. After the injury, I didn’t even want to play any more in the game, that is how terrible I felt. Dan is a great player, somebody I respect as a player and as a person, and I certainly wish him a speedy recovery and return to the field.” The Galaxy will place Calichman on the injured list and will activate another player to make up the team’s 20-man roster. The player to be activated will be determined at a future date.