Sounders’ Dempsey fined, suspended by U.S. Open Cup

Seattle Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey has been banned from U.S. Open Cup competition through at least the 2017 tournament.

The Open Cup adjudication and discipline panel on Thursday fined Dempsey an undisclosed amount and suspended him a total of six Open Cup matches or the next two years of Open Cup competition, whichever is greater. The action follows the red card Dempsey received June 16 in a loss to the Portland Timbers during which he tore and threw the referee’s notebook.

Last week, Major League Soccer suspended Dempsey for three league games in connection with the same incident. Dempsey will serve the final game of that suspension Sunday when the Sounders visit Portland. Seattle is 0-2 in his absence.

The length of Dempsey’s Open Cup suspension will depend on how many games his team plays in the tournament each year.

The U.S. Open Cup is the nation’s club championship, open to teams from all levels of U.S. Soccer. The Sounders are four-time champions.

U.S. Soccer said Dempsey waived his right to an appeal.

This story was originally published June 25, 2015 at 3:40 PM with the headline "Sounders’ Dempsey fined, suspended by U.S. Open Cup."