Two DC United players have been suspended by the club after an alleged verbal and physical altercation, according to The Athletic’s Pablo Maurer.
United have already announced that Taxi Fountas and Nigel Robertha were placed on “paid administrative leave” on Friday night, but did not specify the reason other than possible breaches of league policy. But according to reports, Fountas used a racial slur at Robertha, who responded by physically assaulting Fountas.
Fountas has previously been accused of using a racial slur in the past. Major League Soccer investigated an allegation by Inter Miami in 2022 that Fountas used a slur directed at Miami defender Aime Mabika. MLS found the allegation credible, but could not independently confirm that a slur had been used and therefore imposed no sanction on Fountas.
It’s unclear how long both players will be out during their absence from the squad. Fountas joined United in January, while Robertha joined in 2021. Fountas has scored six goals in 17 games this season. Robertha has scored one goal in seven games this season.
In a separate statement issued four hours earlier, United announced they had fired the club’s athletic trainer after an internal review determined the manager made a “discriminatory hand gesture” in a photo posted to social media on July 20.
The Washington Post later identified the coach as Reade Whitney and reported that he made a move closely associated with white supremacy during a photo op for the MLS All-Star Game.
DC currently sits ninth in the MLS Eastern Conference standings with 30 points.