MLS Disciplinary Committee suspends Portland Timbers' Dairon Asprilla and Atlanta United's Franco Escobar

Franco Escobar incident vs. Columbus

The MLS Disciplinary Committee has issued multiple fines and suspensions following Week 24 of the 2020 regular season.


Franco Escobar engaging in an inappropriate interaction with a member of the stretcher crew


The MLS Disciplinary Committee has fined Atlanta United defender Franco Escobar an undisclosed amount and suspended the player for one match for engaging in an inappropriate interaction with a member of the stretcher crew in the 90+ minute of Atlanta’s match on Nov. 8 against Columbus Crew SC.


Escobar will serve his suspension during Atlanta United’s first match of the 2021 MLS Regular Season.

Franco Escobar failure to leave field in timely and orderly manner


Escobar has been fined an additional undisclosed amount for his failure to leave the field in a timely and orderly manner after receiving a red card in the 90+ minute.

Franco Escobar re-entering the field following the match


Escobar has been issued a third fine for an undisclosed amount for re-entering the field at the conclusion of the match to engage in an inappropriate interaction with a Columbus Crew SC staff member.

Dairon Asprilla violent conduct


Portland Timbers forward Dairon Asprilla has been suspended for one match and fined an undisclosed amount for violent conduct in the 81st minute of Portland’s match on Nov. 8 against the Los Angeles Football Club.


The play was reviewed under Disciplinary Committee Parameter #3, in which the Disciplinary Committee may act where the Professional Referees Organization (PRO) acknowledges an on-field referee or Video Review error, and where the Committee is unanimous that the play warrants at least a one match suspension as a clear and unequivocal red card, is egregious and/or repeat behavior in nature, and/or the Committee must act to protect player safety or the integrity of the game.

Fabian Bazan violation of bench behavior policy


The MLS Disciplinary Committee has found Orlando City SC Assistant Coach Fabian Bazan in violation of the League’s bench behavior policy in the 68th minute of Orlando’s match against Columbus Crew SC on Nov. 4. Bazan has been issued a two-match suspension and fined an undisclosed amount for his actions. The assistant coach served the first match of his suspension on Nov. 8 vs. Nashville SC, and he will serve the second match suspension on Nov. 21 vs. New York City FC.