The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Sounders’ Clint Dempsey tears up ref’s notebook, gets red card

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June 17, 2015 at 8:55 a.m. EDT

On June 16, 2014, Clint Dempsey scored for the United States against Ghana in the World Cup.

Exactly one year later, he lost his mind at a 4,500-seat stadium in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup.

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Things broke bad for Dempsey and his Seattle Sounders late in their Open Cup match against the hated Portland Timbers. First, Brad Evans got his second yellow card and was ejected in the 69th minute. Then Obafemi Martins suffered a mysterious groin injury, leaving Seattle with just nine men (the Sounders already had used their three substitutions).

The short-handed Sounders gave up the go-ahead goal midway through the first extra period, and then all hell broke loose. Seattle’s Micheal Azira was red-carded for a rough tackle, which caused Dempsey to tear up the official’s notebook. He was obviously sent off, as well. Seattle finished the eventual 3-1 loss with just seven players.

Here’s some video.

For good measure, here’s another look.

Seattle Coach Sigi Schmid didn’t pull any punches after the game.

“I didn’t want to get thrown out, so I walked away,” Schmid told the Seattle Times. “I was maybe going to choke a referee so I walked away before I did something stupid.”

But don’t worry, the refs got off the field safe.

It’ll be interesting to see how long Dempsey is punished. It could be a lengthy suspension.

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