When FC Dallas returned to training Monday afternoon after a weekend off, there was one major absence from the day's work - forward and captain Carlos Ruiz. The Guatemalan international also missed Tuesday's session before returning to the fold on Wednesday.
During the day on Monday, Ruiz called one of the FCD assistant coaches to relay that he would be unable to make training on either Monday or Tuesday.
"I called (assistant) Oscar Pareja and explained to him what was going on," Ruiz said. "He told (head coach) Steve (Morrow) and we talked about it."
Morrow was first asked about his captain's absence after training on Tuesday and the FCD head coach responded that Ruiz had called on Monday informing them that he would miss training for a legitimate reason. The FCD boss did say that his absence was not excused.
After Wednesday's training, Morrow considered the matter closed and wasn't discussing it any further.
"I've got nothing more to say about Carlos," Morrow said. "I said yesterday that he had a legitimate reason for not being here. I have nothing more to say on the situation."
The FCD boss was asked if Ruiz would be disciplined internally and Morrow replied that a fine would be forthcoming but he remained undecided about whether a suspension would also be levied.
"He will be disciplined by me," Morrow said. "There will be a fine. I haven't decided that yet (whether or not there will be a suspension)."
Ruiz said simply that he was tending to some personal business. "I had some personal things to take care of in Guatemala," he said. "It was nothing major."
Ruiz met with Morrow and the FCD coaches on the practice field after the conclusion of Wednesday's training session, where his absence was discussed.
"It's going to be the same for everybody," Ruiz said. "He (Morrow) has to do something. (Players missing practice) has happened before and it's going to happen again. He told me I will get the same treatment as everybody here."
After scoring in each of FCD's first two games, Ruiz has now failed to net a goal in each of the last four matches. And in that same time frame, he has showed his obvious frustration by being booked in each of those games. Included in that was a yellow for dissent in the late stages of a 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls on April 26. One more caution for Ruiz and he will serve a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation.
A tight hamstring that was bothering him for several of those games is now a thing of the past and Ruiz is ready to help his team return to the win column on Saturday at Kansas City.
"This weekend off was good for me," he said. "I feel good and am ready to go to Kansas City this weekend."
Late last week, Ruiz's name surfaced in a trade report involving Columbus, which happens to be coached by Sigi Schmid, who coached Ruiz in Los Angeles from 2002 through 2004. FC Dallas officials denied those reports, saying no team had contacted the club about Ruiz.
"I heard something about that," Ruiz said. "I don't know if it's true or not but we'll see. I know their coach Sigi Schmid and maybe he wants me on his team. Right now, I don't know if it's true or not. I heard about it but nobody has called me."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
