Houston Dynamo midfielder Colin Clark
has received a three-game suspension and been fined an undisclosed
amount for hurling a gay slur at a ball boy, Goal.com
reported.
Clark used the language during a game
last week against the Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field.
When 27-year-old Clark, who is in his
third season for the Dynamo, was forced to pick up a ball knocked out
of bounds, he yelled “fucking faggot” at the ball boy.
“Major League Soccer (MLS) will not
tolerate this type of behavior from its players or staff at any time,
under any circumstances,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. “Colin
Clark has expressed sincere remorse for his actions and I believe
that he will learn from this incident.”
The day following the incident, Clark
apologized on Twitter.
“I'd like to offer a sincere apology
to everyone who watched the game, especially the ball boy for whom I
used awful language toward,” he messaged.
He added in a statement: “I am sorry
about what happened during the Seattle match,” Clark said. “I
made a mistake that I truly regret. I accept the punishment that has
been handed down by MLS, and I want to learn from this incident and
move forward.”
The Dynamo team said, “We accept and
support the punishment that has been laid out by MLS and look forward
to moving beyond it.”