If D.C. United are going to get a win in their season opener away to the Houston Dynamo (Saturday, 7 pm CT, NBC Sports Network), they'll have to do it without Dwayne De Rosario.
MLS announced early on Friday morning that the MLS Disciplinary Committee has suspended the United star for two games for "violent conduct that endangered the safety of his opponent." He was also fined him an undisclosed amount.
The suspension stems from an incident during a preseason match against the Philadelphia Union on February 23 at the Disney Pro Soccer Classic in Orlando. Midway through the second half, De Rosario headbutted Union midfielder Danny Cruz. The referee issued De Rosario a red card in the 60th minute.
"I would love to defend Dwayne or my players, but this one, I can’t necessarily do that,” United coach Ben Olsen told The Washington Post on Friday.
According to the league's release, the MLS Players Union appealed the decision on behalf of De Rosario, but MLS Commissioner Don Garber chose to uphold the Disciplinary Committee’s decision.
De Rosario will miss Saturday's match in Houston, and will also sit out when D.C.'s home opener against Real Salt Lake on March 9.
