Major League Soccer Suspends Philadelphia Union Left-Back Kai Wagner

Major League Soccer has announced that star left-back for the Philadelphia Union Kai Wagner has been suspended for three games. The league has suspended the 26 year old due to him violating the league’s on field antidiscrimination policy. It seems that the league’s investigation into the alleged incident between Wagner and the New England Revolution’s Bobby Wood has come to an end. It was alleged that Wagner used a racial slur in the Philadelphia Union’s first playoff match against the New England Revolution towards the veteran striker. As part of his suspension, Wagner will attend league mandated education and training sessions. 

The former MLS Best XI and MLS All Star is now having an awful ending to his time in MLS and Philadelphia. There were numerous reports earlier this season that this would be Wagner’s final season within MLS with some interest from European clubs. Now, there is a major stain on Wagner’s time in MLS and he will be remembered for these negative actions instead of his on-field performances.

This is something that has been an unfortunate trend within MLS over the last few years. From Wagner, the earlier season suspension of Dante Vanzeir, and plenty of others… Major League Soccer needs to do something. There needs to be a more emphasis on education, understanding, and just plain decency for human to human interaction. Competition and competitive spirit can exist, but using slur words towards another player’s; race, religion, or anything else should not be in the game of soccer or life.