Union’s Kai Wagner suspended 3 games for using racist language in a game

Union left back Kai Wagner was suspended three games by Major League Soccer on Tuesday, after he admitted to using racist language toward New England Revolution forward Bobby Wood in the teams’ playoff opener on Oct. 28.

Wagner was also ordered to participate in a league-mandated education program, which he has already started; and, according to the league’s announcement, “must remain in full compliance with a program directed by a league-appointed restorative practices expert.”

The suspension starts immediately, ruling him out of Wednesday’s Game 2 of the Union’s playoff series at New England (7:25 p.m., FS1, Fox Deportes, Apple TV). The Union lead the best-of-three series, 1-0. Should the Union lose the series, the remaining game of the suspension would carry over to next year — though Wagner is out of contract after this season and was already unlikely to return.

As such, if the Union lose to New England or to Cincinnati in the conference semifinals, it will mean Wagner has played his last game for the Union. If the Union sweep New England, Wagner would miss the conference semifinal and conference final should the Union make it there.

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The length of the suspension is considerably shorter than the six-game ban the New York Red Bulls’ Dante Vanzeir got for using racist language in a game in April. MLS’s official statement noted that the league ”considered many factors, including Wagner’s immediate acceptance of responsibility for the violation, willingness to participate in a restorative practices process to repair the harm caused, and his cooperation with the league’s investigation.”

A source with knowledge of both players’ proceedings said Vanzeir was not as cooperative with the league at the time, including not initially admitting to his offense. That was a major factor in the difference between the suspensions. The source also said there is ongoing work behind the scenes to put more emphasis on educational processes and less on the punishment of suspension, but there still needs to be enough force in the punishment.

Wagner directed an anti-Asian slur, spoken in his native German, toward Wood in the midst of an argument late in the game. The argument followed a foul by New England’s Giacomo Vrioni on the Union’s Nathan Harriel in the 86th minute of play.

Wood understood what Wagner allegedly said to him because he spent 14 years playing in Germany, from his youth days to many seasons as a pro. (Coincidentally, Wood was brought to his first German club, 1860 Munich, at age 14 by current Union sporting director Ernst Tanner.)

The argument was part of a fracas that started after referee Pierre-Luc Lauzière called Vrioni’s foul late, only blowing his whistle when alerted that Harriel was still down as the play continued. Vrioni and the Union’s José Andrés Martínez started the gathering, then Wagner, Wood, and other players from both teams joined in.

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The stoppage lasted over three minutes. During the 88th minute on the game clock, Vrioni and Wood spoke at length to Lauzière and pointed at someone. A few seconds later, Wood pointed at his eyes before being escorted away by a teammate.

Lauzière took no further action in response to Wood and Vrioni, and in the moment, almost no one else in the stadium knew of the allegation. That was notable, because in past incidents of alleged racist language in MLS, the referee has stopped the game to inform the coaches. There’s no word yet whether Lauzière faces any sanctions for how he handled the situation.

The specific language Wagner used has not been published by the league, or by anyone else. The league never does so, and usually no one else involved in the circumstances does either.

MLS allowed Wagner to remain a full participant in Union practices during the investigation, and he was on the field every day through Tuesday’s session in Chester. The Union did not voluntarily take Wagner off the field, a decision that drew criticism from some fans, though manager Jim Curtin announced that Wagner would not travel to New England before the suspension was announced a few hours later.

The Union departed for New England after Tuesday’s practice.

It’s all quite a turn of events for Wagner. Down the stretch of the regular season, Union fans chanted his name to beg the team to re-sign the league’s best left back to a new deal instead of watching him leave as a free agent. As soon as the allegations arose, that mood changed on a dime.

Now, there’s a possibility he might not play for the Union again.

“The last few days have been very difficult for me and my family,” Wagner sad in a statement on social media Tuesday night. “I said something I deeply regret in the heat of the moment that was in response to defend the unacceptable comments regarding my family. I sincerely apologize for this and will work on bettering myself and my actions. This is not a representation of who I am.”

The Union said in a statement: “We support the ruling of Major League Soccer and value the importance and seriousness of fostering an environment that is inclusive to all. The Philadelphia Union does not condone any form of harassment, discrimination, or abusive language.”

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