Disciplinary policy catches Orlando City SC and Atlanta United

The MLS Disciplinary Committee fined Orlando City SC and Atlanta United for a Mass Confrontation violation during their Nov. 23 match.

The MLS Mass Confrontation Policy covers the situation that in American Rules sports is called a bench-clearing. Players and coaches of Orlando City SC and Atlanta United suffered sanctions from this policy for actions in their recent playoff match.

Players fined undisclosed amounts include Orlando goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, midfielders Cesar Araujo, Wilder Cartagena, and Martin Ojeda; Atlanta defender Luis Abram and midfielders Bartosz Slisz and Saba Lobjanidze.

Orlando Head Coach Oscar Pareja and Atlanta interim Head Coach Rob Valentino are also fined.

Justification for the sanctions range from inciting a mass confrontation to escalating it.

While the spotlight is on this incident because it occurred during the playoffs, this is the third violation of this policy this year for Orlando and the second for Atlanta.

The soccer version of bench-clearing results from different conditions than a brush-back pitch in baseball or a late hit or targeting in American rules football. These incidents erupt on the pitch like a fire ant mound that got stepped on.

They erupt from disputed referee calls. Rather than confronting players like in other sports, a crowd of players usually surround a referee. That’s what draws the fines.

The trigger was when Orlando striker Facundo Torres fell to the ground and started writhing. The rule requires three or more players to engage in a verbal (or physical) confrontation. The confrontation can involve a referee and must include intimidating or aggressive behavior.

The number of players in this incident was covered in multiples. It was almost all verbal. We’re taking the league’s word about the intimidating part.

The policy was implemented in 2013.

Both Orlando and Atlanta use a level of aggression as part of their strategies. Atlanta scouts identified Orlando’s specific scheme during the regular season as the South American Offense. The Lions employ this scheme to emphasize controlling space, driven by aggression.

The strategy works only when managed. Reckless play doesn’t win here. Orlando wasn’t reckless.

Atlanta thought they were prepared to meet this scheme. But the confrontation erupted when United wasn’t getting to use the space controlled by Orlando. Torres was down and both squads were highly concerned.

Following this incident, no team got anything. Seven minutes later, Orlando got a corner kick and then Ramiro Enrique got the only score of the match.

It’s time to pay the fines and execute the drills.

Orlando City SC has a playoff match to win.