Tampa Bay Rowdies player suspension for racial discriminatory behavior toward a Monterey Bay F.C. player overturned
SEASIDE, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE AT 4:23 P.M. ON 10/14/2022- Monterey Bay F.C. said the Tampa Bay Rowdies player suspended for 12 games for racial discrimination has been allowed to return to the pitch.
Laurence Wyke's suspension was overturned, and Monterey Bay F.C. says they are "disappointed to learn that the league's Independent Disciplinary Panel has overturned the USL Championship's decision."
The club said there were several individuals who witnesses the racially discriminatory gestures made by the player. This includes players, club staff members and an on-duty police officer.
Fans that were in attendance are asked to send video of the incident if they captured it.
Tampa Bay Rowdies defender suspended 12 games for racial discriminatory behavior toward a Monterey Bay F.C. player.
UPDATE AT 7:23 P.M. ON 10/10/2022- The USL Championship announced on Monday night that they have suspended Tampa Bay Rowdies defender Laurence Wyke for 12 games and fined him an undisclosed amount of money.
Wyke was suspended for violating the league’s zero-tolerance policy for harassment or discrimination by directing racially discriminatory behavior toward a Monterey Bay F.C. player during their Oct. 2 game.
The Union, (12-4-16, 40 points) were supposed to play FC Tulsa, (11-6-15, 39 points) last Saturday. The game was postponed as a result of the investigation.
The rescheduled game will now be on Wednesday night in Tulsa. The game will kick off at 5:30 p.m.
ORGINAL STORY
Monterey Bay Football Club's Saturday road game against FC Tulsa will now be postponed so the USL Championship's League can investigate a racial language incident.
Allegations of "racial language and gestures" towards a Monterey Bay F.C. player by a Tampa Bau Rowdies player following their game on Oct. 2 are now under investigation.
There is no word on when the game will be played.
"Monterey Bay Football Club is united in our stance against racism," the team said in a statement.
