TORONTO, CANADA – AUGUST 30: Kai Wagner of Philadelphia Union looks on during the MLS Major League Soccer match between Toronto FC and Philadelphia Union at BMO Field on August 30, 2023 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mohammad Karamali/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Major League Soccer suspended Philadelphia Union defender Kai Wagner on Tuesday for three matches for violating the league’s on-field anti-discrimination policy after the league launched an investigation into whether he used a racial slur against a New England Revolution player.
Wagner will begin serving the penalty on Wednesday when the Revolution hosts the Union in Game 2 of their MLS Cup Eastern Conference semifinals matchup. Philadelphia leads the best-of-three series 1-0. Wagner would also sit out a potential series-deciding match on Sunday. Should the Union be eliminated, his suspension would carry over to next season.
The Athletic reported that penalty stems from an incident during Game 1 of the series with New England in which Wagner was accused of directing an anti-Asian slur to Revolution forward Bobby Wood. Wood was born in Hawaii and is of Japanese and Black heritage.
According to the report, the Revolution sent a complaint to the league office following the incident, initiating the investigation.
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MLS said in a statement that Wagner acknowledged wrongdoing.
“In reaching this decision, MLS considered many factors, including Wagner’s immediate acceptance of responsibility, willingness to participate in a restorative practices process to repair the harm caused, and his cooperation with the league’s investigation,” the league’s statement said.
As part of the suspension, Wagner has begun MLS-mandated education and training, a process the league said will continue. He also “must remain in full compliance with a program directed by a league-appointed restorative practices expert.”
