Weston McKennie and Sergino Dest ‘SUSPENDED after dust-up in the Nations League semis v. Mexico’

The four players that received red cards during the heated CONCACAF Nations League semifinal match between the United States and Mexico were further suspensions for their roles.

According to a report from The Athletic, USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie and defender Sergino Dest have received suspensions ‘following the on-field player misconduct’ that happened during the match.

McKennie was reportedly suspended for three games and Dest was suspended for two games. 

However, a USSF spokesperson told The Athletic that the Gold Cup will count towards those suspensions – even though neither player was named for the tournament roster.

Mexico national team players Cesar Montes and Gerardo Arteaga were also given suspensions – with Montes out for three matches and Arteaga out for two. Both players were named to the Mexico Gold Cup roster.

Tempers flared on the pitch as an outclassed Mexico side played dirty and started fights

Sergino Dest (L) is also receiving a two-game suspension following a separate altercation

The United States thoroughly outclassed Mexico in the semifinals on Thursday in a game that saw nine yellow cards and four red cards.

As the game began to wind down, and the USA was up 2-0, an embarrassed Mexico began to make dangerous challenges, pick fights, and played dirty.

Referee Ivan Barton could not keep the match under control as Montes needlessly and purposefully kicked the legs of US striker Folarin Balogun.

That action started a brawl between the two sides. McKennie was shoved while his kit was torn. As he tried to defend himself, the Texas-born midfielder put his hands to the throat of Jorge Sanchez.

Even though McKennie has himself been choked multiple times in this specific fixture – with no punishment to the opposition – he was given a red card and has now received further suspension.

Just minutes later, substitute Ricardo Pepi furthered the humiliation with a goal to make it 3-0 in the 78′.

Further fracas in the 85′ led to red cards distributed to Arteaga and Dest after the American defender was shoved by Mexico’s Edson Alvarez.

As the sides came together, cups and debris began flying onto the field as Barton tried to restore order again.

After the match had concluded, McKennie apologized to his teammates for the red card

Off the pitch, Mexico fans had spent the entire match chanting homophobic slurs – with their chants growing louder as the contest drew to a close.

After the match was stopped twice, Barton officially ended the game eight minutes into the 12 minute stoppage time period due to the offensive chanting. CONCACAF did not announce any punishment to the Mexican Football Federation as a result of these chants.

When the game concluded, McKennie apologized to his teammates for the red card infraction and wished them luck going into the finals. 

In the absence of Dest and McKennie, the US went on to win the Nations League title with a 2-0 victory over Canada last Sunday.