The Rafa diaries: still awaiting suspension verdict

Apr 18, 2012, 10:05 AM EDT

San Jose Earthquakes v New York Red Bulls

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Today. Maybe tomorrow.

One way or the other, we’ll find out well ahead of the Red Bulls’ Sunday date with D.C. United whether their Mexican international will be involved. (Doubtful, by the way.)

Meanwhile, a bit of Marquez-related news was made yesterday when a member of the Red Bulls’ organization spoke for the first time on the latest Marquez mischief. Red Bulls general manager Erik Soler said Tuesday that he is hopeful for leniency but that his club is “prepared for whatever comes.”

And how does he feel generally about Marquez’s inclination for creating commotion and the ever growing public outcry over it all?

“We’d rather have no incidences than any incidence,” Soler said following the Red Bulls workout Tuesday afternoon. “But with him, or with anybody else, it’s something we’re going to speak to him about and see if there’s anything we need to adjust.”

It’s not a good time for the Red Bulls – although perhaps Marquez should have considered that before we went MMA on Shea Salinas, who has forgiven New York’s midfielder. (He’ll have plenty of time to contemplate the blessed virtue of forgiveness over the next 6-8 weeks as he recovers from the latest Marquez mayhem.

It’s a bad time for the Red Bulls because they already are missing left back Roy Miller, center back Wilman Conde and holding midfielder Teemu Tainio.

Joel Lindpere is the most likely replacement for Tainio / Marquez at holding midfielder, with Mehdi Ballouchy occupying Lindpere’s spot on the left. (Yes, it’s still Lindpere’s “spot” until Ballouchy makes a few more starts there.)

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4 Comments (Feed for Comments)

footballer4ever - Apr 18, 2012 at 10:23 AM

Rafa Marquez is a unprofessional, conceited and disgraceful player. He has been a disgrace to his national team and to the RedBulls with his temper tantrums and negative display. I figure he’s upset he’s still not with FCB and does not respect his team or our league. He misbehaved last year and was given a chance to which he stated he’d change his ways; Nevetheless, actions are speaking louder than his words. MLS, get rid off this high maintenance Diva and find a worthy DP instead.

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asantabarbara - Apr 18, 2012 at 1:07 PM

the tackle was definitely a foul. However, you see stuff like that a lot in games. The kick would be grounds for suspension. In slow mo, it looks like it is definitely a kick. In real time, it does not and I wonder if he really had the time to consider a kick or if he just flailed his feet as they came down. Calls for 10 game suspension seem overkill as this is nothing like a two footed tackles that have broken legs and garnered smaller suspensions.

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- Steve Davis - Apr 18, 2012 at 1:35 PM
  
  10-game suspension? Who called for that? I said yesterday my best guess was two games.
  
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theonlyrealnyteam - Apr 18, 2012 at 1:54 PM

As a RedBulls fan, this guy is a piece of sh*t. He thinks he is still in his Barcelona form but he clearly is not. He plays when he feels like it. He also disrespected his teammates last season and said they were sh*t. Get rid of him, let him go play for the Mexican league. Use that DP spot on someone legit. I heard Ballack is interested….

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