Major League Soccer's Disciplinary Committee announced today that Chicago Fire forward Nate Jaqua has been suspended for two games and issued a $750 fine for violent conduct on a foul committed against D.C. United defender Mike Petke in an April 24 regular season game at RFK Stadium. The two-game suspension will take effect immediately and Jaqua will sit out the Fire's next two regular season matches on May 1 against the MetroStars and on May 8 in Kansas City.
The incident between Jaqua and Petke occurred in the 20th minute of last Saturday's 1-0 Chicago road victory over D.C. United. With Chicago in possession of the ball in United's half, the two players were involved in an off-the-ball tussle near the top of the D.C. penalty area in which Jaqua threw his elbow back toward Petke's head and made contact. Petke fell to the ground on the play and Jaqua was issued a caution by referee Ricardo Valenzuela. The second-year player will not be subject to double jeopardy and the Disciplinary Committee sanction overrides the automatic caution points and $100 fine resulting from the yellow card issued for bringing the game disrepute, which will not be applied.
