Toronto FC's Richie Laryea, right, is dispossessed by FC Cincinnati's Yuya Kubo during the first half of a MLS soccer match, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, in Cincinnati. Major League Soccer has fined Toronto FC midfielder Laryea and forwards Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne an undisclosed amount "for inciting and/or escalating a mass confrontation" in Sundays season opener at FC Cincinnati. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Jeff Dean
TORONTO – Major League Soccer has fined Toronto FC midfielder Richie Laryea and forwards Federico Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne an undisclosed amount “for inciting and/or escalating a mass confrontation” in Sunday’s season opener at FC Cincinnati.
The incident occurred in the 56th minute at TQL Stadium when Cincinnati forward Sergio Santos bodied Toronto defender Kevin Long to the turf after the two collided on the edge of the TFC penalty box.
Bernardeschi, Insigne and Laryea rushed over to join captain Jonathan Osorio in debating the play with referee Jonathan Weiner with Osorio eventually pushing Laryea out of the way.
The MLS disciplinary committee also found Toronto in violation of the league’s mass confrontation policy, with an official warning issued to both club and coach John Herdman.
The game finished in a scoreless draw.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 28, 2024
