The US footballer Michael Bradley was sent off during last month’s semifinal against Spain in the Confederations Cup in South Africa. After the match he confronted the referee, Uruguayan Jorge Larrionda, and it’s following this confrontation Bradley has been suspended for three matches.
Bradley was sent off in the dying minutes of the second half for a lunging tackle on Xabi Alonso and was set to miss the final before his confrontation with Larrionda. As with recent bans for Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa, Bradley received a four-match suspension with one match to be served only if he acts out again within six months.
The experienced Larrionda has previously been involved in controversy when refereeing USA, in 2006 he sent off Paolo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope for US while Daniele De Rossi was red carded for Italy, all in the same match.
