BREAKING NEWS MLS star issues furious denial after being banned for alleged racial slur of rival player
Minnesota United midfielder Joseph Rosales has been suspended by MLS for the alleged use of discriminatory language in a match against the Vancouver Whitecaps in April.
However, the player denies that he used any discriminatory language and disagreed with the league's suspension.
The match on April 27 saw the two sides engaged in a heated conversation before play continued without a stoppage.
While Rosales' name was rumored to be involved, neither the Whitecaps nor Minnesota United confirmed the involvement of either the offending player or the victim in requests for clarification from DailyMail.com.
Now, on Wednesday, Minnesota United confirmed that the 24-year-old Honduran had been suspended for three games due to violation of MLS 's Joint Non-Discrimination Policy.
Both the club and Rosales released statements after the decision was handed down.
Rosales' statement reads: 'I am addressing the recent three-game suspension issued by the League. I want to be clear: I did not use any discriminatory language.
'However, I acknowledge that my actions contributed to escalating tensions on the field, and for that, I sincerely apologize to the opposing player and to everyone affected.
'While I disagree with the League's decision to suspend me because I believe it was based on a misinterpretation, I respect their process and their commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment.
'I have always taken this situation seriously and am committed to doing everything I can to support a respectful, inclusive game.'
The club's statement said, 'MNUFC is aware of and accepts the League's decision to suspend Joseph Rosales for violating the MLS-MLSPA Joint Non-Discrimination POlicy. The League concluded that Rosales used discriminatory language against an opposing player.
'While both MNUFC and Rosales acknowledge that the opposing player believed he heard discriminatory language, was negatively impacted, and expressed his concern in good faith, Rosales adamantly denies using discriminatory language. After speaking extensively with Rosales and several members of our team, our club believes and supports him.'
The statement continued: 'Although he denies using language that violated the joint policy, Rosales has taken full accountability for his role in escalating on-field tensions during the match.
'He is committed to participating in any steps the League recommends to continue strengthening and reinforcing a culture of respect and accountability across the League.
Rosales emphatically denied that he used language which violated the league's policy
Minnesota United also released a statement accepting the ban but standing by Rosales' claims
'Combating discrimination in all forms is a core value of our club. MNUFC will continue working with the League, our players and our broader community to uphold the standards of respect, equality, inclusion and accountability.'
The club then confirmed the three matches Rosales would miss: two league matches against Houston Dynamo and St. Louis City as well as another game against St. Louis in the Round of 16 for the US Open Cup.
Rosales will be eligible to return for a league game against Austin FC on May 24.
MLS implemented a new Anti-Discrimination Policy ahead of the 2024 season, which the league said was the first of its kind in American professional sports, 'in that it is centered on restorative practices, prioritizing education, prevention, training and cultural awareness.'
Per the policy, players involved in a discriminatory incident will 'have the opportunity to speak confidentially with a trained facilitator' who will have a 'formal role in evaluating the situation and offering a proposed restorative plan when appropriate.'
'Thorough' investigations into these incidents involve assessments of audio and video footage, a review of the match report, and interviews with witnesses.
The policy states that the commissioner has the authority to issue discipline 'if it is determined that a violation occurred.'
New York Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir was suspended by MLS for six games in 2023
However, if the player accepts responsibility and agrees to engage in a 'restorative plan' they will face 'less severe discipline than if he denies committing the act and is found, based on all the evidence, to have been untruthful or misleading.'
MLS is one of the more nationally diverse leagues in the world and has suffered from multiple notable racist incidents over the past few years.
The most prominent example involved New York Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir using a racial slur against San Jose Earthquakes forward Jeremy Ebobisse during an April 2023 match.
Vanzeir was suspended for six games. That punishment was subsequently protested by the Red Bulls fans, who believed it was too light.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Protest curfews spread to Washington as LA moves to arrest 'bad actors' and unrest continues in NYC and Chicago
Massive anti-ICE riots have spread from coast to coast as Los Angeles tries to crack down on 'bad actors' at fiery protests that continued for a sixth consecutive day on Wednesday. The City of Angels has been reeling since Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents first conducted raids in the city on Friday, sparking viral clashes between officers in riot gear and protesters who set vehicles on fire. Some have even taken advantage of the chaos as they looted more than 20 stores. But in cities across the nation, residents are rallying to show their support for the people of Los Angeles as they hold their own anti-ICE demonstrations - prompting Republicans to investigate who may be behind the uprising. Protests have popped up in cities like New York City and Chicago, and in Spokane, Washington, Mayor Lisa Brown was forced to impose a curfew after large groups of protesters took to the streets and blocked off roads. Officers who responded to the scene were then seen donning gas masks and deploying a device that released smoke into the crowd, causing them to disperse and begin shouting at police, CNN reports. A total of 30 people have since been arrested in the Washington city. It comes just one day after Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued her own lockdown from 8pm to 6am, saying she was trying to 'stop bad actors who are taking advantage of the President's chaotic escalation' after President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard and Marines to the city. But protesters have remained on the scene, with 17 people arrested on Tuesday for violating the curfew, according to the Los Angeles Times. Even more arrests were made Wednesday, as curfew went into effect for a second consecutive and police quickly drove rioters out. Officers were seen on horseback charging into a crowd at City Hall, causing several demonstrators to fall to the ground. Cops then pushed hundreds of protesters into Gloria Molina Grand Park, where they gathered and began chanting 'Shame.' Yet they seemed to be aware of their situation, as they wrote the number for bail support on their arms. Meanwhile, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced criminal charges against eight people who allegedly attacked police, vandalized building and looted stores since the unrest began. 'If people want to hurl insults, we will protect that,' he said at a news conference Wednesday. 'If people want to engage in crimes, we will prosecute that.' His office said three people were charged with using fireworks and motorcycles to hurt officers, after two were caught on camera slamming their bikes into a police skirmish line. Hochman also announced charges against two people who allegedly joined a break in at a downtown Los Angeles Nike store and felony vandalism charges against people accused of tagging the downtown Hall of Justice - which houses the headquarters for the District Attorney's Office and the Sheriff's Department. More unruly rioters may also find themselves criminally charged in the coming days, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said. He explained that officers are continuing to review footage from the riots. 'If you didn't get caught in the last couple of nights, there's a lot of evidence,' Luna said. 'You're probably going to have a detective knocking at your door.' Yet detectives are also trying to figure out how to work with members of the National Guard and the Marines, who arrived in the city on Wednesday. 'The role is still not clear, to us, the Marines or the National Guard, other than they're a support entity to protect federal employees and facilities,' Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell told CNN's Kaitlan Collins. 'This is unprecedented,' he continued. 'As far as the scope of their responsibilities or their abilities relative to arrest or dealing in a municipal environment, that's not something that they do certainly. 'What their training is, we're not sure of that - either on the Army or the Marines as it relates to crowd management, crowd control in an urban environment.' Attorneys representing President Donald Trump, though, argued in court documents on Wednesday that the military forces in Los Angles were not engaging directly in policing as they hit out at California Gov. Gavin Newsom's lawsuit. The governor and Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a suit over the president's deployment of the National Guard and the Marines earlier this week, arguing it was unconstitutional because it violates state sovereignty and federal laws that limit the use of military forces for policing. In a desperate attempt to get the forces out of Los Angeles, Newsom also asked a judge on Tuesday for a temporary restraining order on Trump's deployment - which the judge denied. Lawyers for the Trump administration have since filed a response calling California's request for the restraining order a 'crass political stunt endangering American lives.' If it were to be granted, they said, it would prevent the president 'from exercising his lawful statutory and constitutional power' to ensure federal facilities and personnel are protected and that the nation's immigration laws are adequately enforced. A hearing on the matter is now scheduled for Thursday afternoon. In the meantime, local and federal officials have vowed to investigate who may be funding the massive cross country riots. LA County Sheriff Robert Luna on Wednesday said he found 'evidence' outside agitators or an organized group is behind the riots in the city, and said authorities were 'looking to see if there is a conspiracy of some kind or organization,' Newsweek reports. At the federal level, FBI Director Kash Patel also said the bureau 'is investigating any and all monetary connections responsible for these riots' as reports emerged that Chinese influence could be behind the chaos, according to The Signal. The US-based Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) organized some of last week's protests in response to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that snowballed into violence over the weekend. The Marxist revolutionaries also played a role in last year's anti-Israel protests that roiled Columbia University. PLS has ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through Neville Roy Singham, a Connecticut-born tech entrepreneur who operates from Shanghai. Singham, together with his wife, Jodie Evans, the founder of antiwar group Code Pink, have been investigated by House Republicans for promoting protests, dissent and unrest in the US for their bosses in Beijing. Yet even though there may be financial links between Singham, PSL and the peaceful demonstrations against Trump's immigration crackdown, there is nothing to suggest that those protestors are involved in any of the violence or looting in LA. Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley has turned the blame on a Los Angeles immigration organization, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, which he said is 'bankrolling' the unrest. In a letter to Angelica Salas, the head of the organization, Hawley wrote that it should 'cease and desist any further involvement in the organization, funding or promotion of these unlawful activities.' 'Credible reporting now suggests that your organization has provided logistical support and financial resources to individuals engaged in these disruptive actions,' wrote Hawley, who chairs the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism. 'Let me be clear: bankrolling civil unrest is not protected speech. It is aiding and abetting criminal conduct.' Salas, though, has denied the accusations. 'This is trying to take away the spotlight from the pain and suffering that this administration is causing,' she told the LA Times. 'I refuse to make it about anybody else but them.'
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Pacers beat Thunder to take lead in NBA Finals
Tyrese Haliburton praised a team effort from the Indiana Pacers after they beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 to take a 2-1 lead in the NBA scored 22 points and made 11 assists and nine rebounds as the Pacers overturned a five-point deficit going into the fourth quarter in game three of the best-of-seven Pacers bench outscored the Thunder by 49-18, with reserve Bennedict Mathurin contributing 27 points at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis."So many different guys chipped in," said Haliburton. "Ben Mathurin was amazing off the bench. We just had guys make plays after plays." Mathurin said: "The main thing is you have to be resilient. You have to be the aggressor in order to win games."The Pacers, who went into the game after a 123-107 defeat in game two, extended a run of not losing consecutive games since Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA's Most Valuable Player, scored 24 points for the Thunder but only three in the fourth Williams top-scored for the visitors with 26 points, while Chet Holmgren scored 20 points and made 10 rebounds for a Thunder side that gave up 19 turnovers which led to 21 points for the Pacers."In the fourth quarter I just thought they really outplayed us on both ends," said Thunder coach Mark four will take place at the same venue at 20:30 local time on Friday (01:30 BST, Saturday).
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Wings rookie Paige Bueckers puts up 35 in return to action
June 12 - Dallas rookie standout Paige Bueckers returned from a four-game absence on Wednesday and put up a career-high 35 points in the Wings' 93-80 road loss to the Phoenix Mercury. Bueckers missed three games due to a concussion and another because of an illness. She came back to make 13 of 19 shots from the floor, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range, while adding six rebounds and four assists. Her 22 first-half points topped her previous high for a game, 21. Bueckers was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft after being a college star at UConn, where she was a three-time first-team All-American and also won one national championship (2025) and one national player of the year honor (2021). She was averaging 14.7 points, 6.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds in six games for Dallas before getting hurt. Before Wednesday, Bueckers last played on May 29 when the Wings lost 97-92 to the Chicago Sky. She had 15 points, eight assists, five rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots. Dallas has a 1-10 record, which ranks last in the 13-team league. --Field Level Media
