The Major League Soccer disciplinary committee handed down two suspensions on Wednesday.
Columbus Crew forward Andy Herron was fined $3,000 and suspended for four games for violent conduct, while the committee also suspended Chivas USA defender Sacha Kljestan two games and fined him $1,000 for a serious foul.
Kljestan fouled Real Salt Lake forward Andy Williams in the second half of Chivas USA's 4-0 win on Saturday and received a yellow card.
In cases when the referee sees a play on the field and exercises his judgment not to issue a red card, the committee will not act unless it determines that: a) a consequent injury occurred and b) it was an unequivocal red card offense and c) the offense was egregious or that extraordinary circumstances exist.
According to MLS, even though the referee saw the Kljestan incident and exercised his on-field judgment not to award a red card, a serious injury to Williams resulted. In this circumstance, the committee reviewed the play and concluded that the challenge was an unequivocal red card offense and egregious.
As a result, the committee suspended Kljestan two MLS regular-season games and fined him $1,000.
Originally, RSL feared that Williams suffered a broken leg, but X-rays were negative. Instead, he suffered a high-ankle sprain and will likely be out three to four weeks.
Herron elbowed Revolution defender Jay Heaps in the face last Thursday in the Crew's 2-2 tie against New England. The officials on the field did not see Herron's blow to Heaps, but after reviewing the game film, the committee determined it was a deliberate and dangerous act, committed away from any play on the ball.