Seattle Sounders midfielder Clint Dempsey has been given a three-match ban following his sending-off for ripping up a referee's notebook.
The 32-year-old was dismissed, along with three of his teammmates, as Seattle suffered a 3-1 defeat to the Portland Timbers in the Open Cup last week.
He had reacted angrily to a red card shown to his teammate Michael Azira, by taking referee Daniel Radford's notebook and tearing it to shreds.
"We do not tolerate conduct of this nature from any of our players," MLS deputy commissioner Mark Abbott said in a statement.
"No matter how passionate our players are or what happens in the 'heat of the moment,' they must always respect all aspects of the game, especially the referees. In light of Clint's actions and our past precedents, we felt that a significant suspension was appropriate."
Dempsey is in his third season at Seattle, having joined the club from Tottenham Hotspur in August 2013.
Alex Meyers
