Before the 2013 season, Major League Soccer unveiled three new disciplinary issues that would face a crackdown in 2013.
On Friday the Disciplinary Committee came down on two of them.
First, the committee fined Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath for violating the policy of "hands to the face/head of an opponent" in the 35th minute of the Union's July 12 home game against Chivas USA.
MacMath caught a ball in the box after a Chivas USA corner kick and as he sprinted forward to kickstart the Union's counterattack, he had an altercation with Goats defender Walter Vilchez, who was punished with a yellow card for interference. During the incident, MacMath is seen lifting his right arm in an attempt to push Vilchez out of his path.
The other point of emphasis that was violated also came in the same match: The Disciplinary Committee fined the club $5,000 as well as issuing a $1,000 fine to the team's manager, Jose Luis Real, for "violation of the League's policy on mass confrontation."
WATCH: Mass confrontation in PHI-CHV
The incident occurred in the 79th minute, as Chivas USA protested a red card and back pass infraction by surrounding referee Jorge Gonzalez.
Below is the official league policy on both issues:
HANDS TO THE FACE/HEAD OF AN OPPONENT
Individuals witnessed to have made contact with their own hands to the face/head of an opponent will be subject to a minimum of a fine. Should the severity of the contact be considered egregious, the Disciplinary Committee will have the discretion to add supplemental punishment including match suspension and/or increased fines.
Repeat violations will result in an escalated penalty either in the form of additional games suspended and/or increased fine amounts as determined on a case by case basis by the Disciplinary Committee.
MASS CONFRONTATION POLICY
Mass Confrontation will be defined as the concerted actions of three (3) or more individuals (players, coaches, staff or club officials) from the same Club toward:
WATCH: Mass confrontation explained
Any member of the officiating crew (including the fourth official) with one or more of the following characteristics:
1. Disputing a decision by confronting the official(s) and/or hindering or forcing their movement; or
2. Individually or collectively appearing or attempting to influence an official; or
3. Demonstrating an unreasonable level of hostility toward the official(s); or
4. An incident of excessive duration
OR
Any member of the opposing Club (player, staff or official) and engaging in either a physical or verbal confrontation. In judging the severity of the offense, the following will be considered:
1. The potential incitement of the crowd;
2. The proximity of the incident to the crowd;
3. The level of violent behavior;
4. The involvement of bench personnel (players, coaches, staff);
5. The necessity of police and/or security involvement;
6. The overall context of the match and incident.
Clubs are subject to a warning the first time they are involved is an incident of mass confrontation. For aggravated or subsequent violations, a Club may be fined a minimum of $5,000 and the head coach may receive a minimum fine of $1,000.
