Football manager suspended for SIX games after making vile comments about the referee dying

MLS have suspended Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini for six games after he joked about a referee dying.

Sartini’s side were eliminated from the playoffs following defeat to Los Angeles FC on November 6.

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MLS have suspended Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini[/caption]

And after the game, the manager told Canadian Press: “If they found him in False Creek then I’m going to be a suspect.

“I’m not saying that I would do it, I’m saying I’m the first suspect, it’s different.”

Sartini’s anger came after referee Tim Ford accidentally collided with Whitecaps midfielder Alessandro Schopf after a corner.

It resulted in a three-on-one attack for LAFC, who made the game 2-0.

All hell proceeded to break loose on the pitch as Whitecaps players surrounded Ford, while Sartini ran around looking for an explanation.

The Denis Bouanga goal was then overturned by VAR due to an offside but Sartini had already been red carded by that point

Sartini’s sending off saw him handed an automatic one-game suspension – but his vile comments got him in much hotter water.

MLS added five games to Sartini’s suspension nearly a month after the incident because of a subsequent investigation.

The Italian was also fined $20,000 (£15,700).

Sartini – who has managed the Whitecaps since 2021 – later apologised for his comments the day after the match.

His comments were labelled “disgusting” by the Professional Soccer Referees Association, which represents MLS officials.

The Whitecaps were beaten in the best-of-three series after two games with LAFC.