Los Angeles FC coach Steve Cherundolo was fined $10,000 by Major League Soccer on Wednesday for his critical comments about his club’s match being played against Real Salt Lake in blizzard-like conditions on Saturday.
The MLS said Cherundolo’s comments were in violation of the league’s public criticism policy.
Real Salt Lake earned a 3-0 victory at Sandy, Utah, despite heavy snow and lightning. The match was initially pushed back two hours. Then it was stopped 3:42 into the match due to lightning before being restarted nearly an hour later.
But by the time the match resumed, snow was all over the turf and it continued to accumulate throughout the game. At halftime, field maintenance workers shoveled away snow to make the center line, both goal boxes and both 18-yard boxes visible.
By the midway point of the second half, visibility was a major problem.
“It was not difficult conditions (but) impossible conditions,” Cherundolo said after the game. “An absolute joke that we had to play today. Not safe for the players. One of the worst professional sporting events I’ve ever seen in my life. I feel terrible for the players (that) we put them through this. Game could have been and should have been called many times beforehand. In my opinion, an absolute disgrace that we played today.”
Cherundolo, 45, is in his third season as LAFC coach. He guided the franchise to the 2022 MLS title.
During his playing career, Cherundolo was a member of the United States World Cup teams in 2006 and 2010.
–Field Level Media
