In an effort to lay down the law, and apparently to placate both sides in the matter, Women’s Professional Soccer suspended Washington forward Abby Wambach for one game for her tackle on Athletica midfielder Daniela that cracked her fibia, tore two ligaments and likely knocked her out for the rest of the season. After reviewing a tape of Sunday’s game, WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci also suspended Athletica defender Kia McNeill for her “persistent egregious conduct toward an opposing player” (that would be Wambach) in the game. Both players can appeal the decision, and Athletica apparently will.

Athletica had wanted Wambach punished for ending their best player’s season, and the Freedom thought that there were plenty of plenty of tackles on McNeill’s part that warranted paperework that went uncalled. I wrote in an earlier blog that I thought the league would take the easy way out and give Wambach community service. Instead, they took easy way out No. 2 and suspended Wambach, but suspended McNeill as well.

 On Wednesday, the league’s disciplinary committee had decided no further penalties were warranted, but Antonucci has the right under league rules to administer further discipline.
“I elected to review the circumstances of the Freedom-Athletica match out of concern that the nature of play, if left unchecked, could lead to circumstances in future games that might pose a threat to the safety of the players and to the integrity of the league,” Antonucci said in a statement accompanying the decision. ”In addition to the issuance of the discipline in the decision above, I have directed that the circumstances of this match be brought to the attention of the U.S. Soccer Federation, which provides referee assignments for WPS matches, and that serious consideration be given to avoiding these circumstances when making future referee assignments.”

That last sentence, it seems to me, is a reference to referee Shane Butler, who has drawn criticism — on this blog and elsewhere — for letting physical play in the game get out of hand, leading to Daniela’s injury.

Athletica will appeal the decion and had no further comment. They almost had to appeal since if they didn’t, they were running out of players for Saturday’s game. If Sara Larsson isn’t available — she’s very close to coming back from a hamstring injury, Athletica would be down to 17 players for Saturday, one of whom is the No. 3 goalie. So Barcellos would have a five-player bench (with none of them defenders, unless Melissa Tancredi moves from forward to the back). He’d also have to significantly rearrage his lineup with one day of prep time. 

If McNeill appeals and the decision is upheld — Commissioner Antonucci would rule on an appeal — the suspension would be served at Athletica’s next game, on May 23 at Chicago. By that time, Larsson should be back — she’s real close — Amanda Cinalli could be back and Stephanie Logterman would have arrived in camp, though Chalupny and Solo would be gone on national team duty.