Columbus Crew coach Wilfried Nancy, staffer fined, suspended multiple matches
Crew coach Wilfried Nancy and fitness/rehab coach Federico Pizzuto have been fined and suspended additional matches on top of the mandatory one-match suspensions triggered by red cards during a foul-laden 1-1 draw against New York City FC Saturday at Lower.com Field.
Nancy, who was ejected from the game in the 87th minute for going onto the pitch to complain about a missed foul, was suspended and fined for "irresponsible behavior," according to the committee's decision. He was also fined for "failing to leave the field in a timely and orderly manner."
Nancy will miss a match Saturday in Portland plus the Crew's Aug. 20 home match against FC Cincinnati in the "Hell Is Real" rivalry. Pizzuto was fined and suspended for "violent conduct — throwing liquid at and on a match official," and will miss three MLS matches: this week's against the Timbers, Aug. 20 against FC Cincinnati and Aug. 26 against Toronto FC at Lower.com Field.
Nancy will not be allowed in "team spaces" from 90 mins before kickoff Saturday in Portland until the end of the game. So, he'll watch from the stands.
"It’s been four years since I’ve been to Portland," he said Wednesday. "It’s going to be nice.”
The MLS disciplinary committee didn't disclose the fine amounts. Neither coach's suspension applies to the Crew's upcoming Leagues Cup matches against St. Louis City SC (July 23) and Liga MX's Club America (July 31) — both at Lower.com Field.
The Crew did not issue a statement regarding the additional disciplinary measures, but Nancy is scheduled to speak with reporters Wednesday before the team's training session at OhioHealth Performance Center. The Dispatch has contacted the league seeking comment, but has not received a reply.
Additionally, star forward Cucho Hernandez will miss the game in Portland after being ejected against NYCFC for two yellow cards. Hernandez's second yellow happened in the 69th minute, when head official Sergii Boiko assessed it after the forward’s foot struck a defender in the face during an attempted kick.
Nancy was shown a red card near the end of regulation for storming onto the field to protest the non-call of a foul that occurred in front of the Crew's bench. Pizzuto was also shown the red card during that sequence for squirting liquid from a plastic bottle onto a nearby official, which required a video assisted referee (VAR) review to determine who did it.
Losing their head coach plus Hernandez presents a significant challenge to the Crew’s eight-game unbeaten streak (5-0-3) this week, even though the Timbers (5-9-7) are outside the playoff qualification line in the Western Conference. Hernandez, has five goals and leads the Crew with 10 assists.
Nancy is in his first year coaching Columbus and his possession-oriented system has turned the Crew into one of the league’s most dangerous offensive teams.
Pizzuto’s absence will leave the Crew’s medical/training staff one short for three games.
More: 'Let's move on': Cucho Hernandez addresses ejection during Crew draw vs. NYCFC
Hernandez tweeted Sunday that he was "sorry" for his role in forcing the Crew to finish the game one player down without him, which created an emotional scenario in which Sean Zawadzki scored a thrilling "man down" goal in stoppage time against NYCFC to force a draw.
Nancy addressed the officiating and circumstances that led to his ejection after the game.
“Usually, I am composed and calm,” he said. “Yes, I have emotions, like everybody, but I’m able to control that when this is the moment (you must stay calm) ... but on that one, it was difficult. To get the emotion like this and to get the red card like this is because ... yeah, something happened (to cause it). It was not possible for me to control that.”
Being shown a red card or two yellows in an MLS match automatically triggers a mandatory one-match suspension and fines are often tacked onto it.
That was the expected penalty for Hernandez and Nancy. Pizzuto's showering of the assistant referee seemed to be the lone action that might've warranted additional suspensions or fines, but the league's disciplinary arm also increased its punitive measures on Nancy.
Following the game, Nancy expressed confidence that MLS wouldn’t assess supplemental disciplinary measures after reviewing a match that included a total of 12 yellow cards between the two teams plus the two reds.
“The league and all the referees, they know me and that I respect their job,” Nancy said. “I don’t know what they are going to do. I prefer to talk about my team. I prefer to talk about that because for me, this is the most important (thing), because I trust the league. I know that the league is going to watch the game, review the game and they are going to see what happened.”
The league saw it differently and the Crew will be without their head coach for their next two MLS matchups.
It's unclear what the Crew will do to replace Nancy during his suspension, but assistant coaches Kwame Ampadu and Yoann Damet are the most likely options. As for Hernandez, there are multiple options to patch over his spot in the starting lineup.
Jacen Russell-Rowe is done playing for Canada in the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament and is expected to return to Columbus this week. Another option is starting forward Max Arfsten, who has two goals and two assists in nine games (two starts). The Crew could also change their look up front to use Christian Ramirez as a lone striker backed by attacking midfielders Alex Matan and Lucas Zelarayan.
The Crew (10-6-6) are fourth in the MLS Eastern Conference standings with 36 points, trailing the New England Revolution (37) for third, Nashville SC (38) for second and FC Cincinnati (45 points) for first.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew's Nancy, fitness coach fined, suspended
