Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- After last Saturday's devastating injury to RSL's Javier Morales, RSL players and fans are anxiously awaiting an MLS league decision for suspension or no suspension of Chivas USA forward Marcos Mondaini.
Reporting by Sporting News says RSL players are calling for a suspension of Mondaini, but the official decision has not yet been announced nor has a time frame for an announcement.
The decision could be a tough one for the league with the two other most recent injuries from similar tackles still fresh in their mind, one which led to a suspension and one which didn't.
Morales was taken down by Mondaini on a tackle from behind which left him with a dislocated and fractured left ankle as well as torn ligaments and underwent surgery Monday.
Morales is the latest to join the growing list of MLS players to be sent to the operating table after dangerous fouls in just the last few weeks.
The first injury came April 22 with Seattle Sounders forward Steve Zakuani, injured off a tackle by Colorado midfielder Brian Mullan. The second came the next day when FC Dallas midfielder David Ferreira went down off a tackle by Vancouver White Caps defender Jonathan Leathers.
Now Morales' injury, which puts him out four-six months.
Mullan was given a 10-game suspension and fined $5,000; Zakuani is not expected to return this season.
Leathers, on the other hand, was not punished for his foul and Ferreira is expected to be out for at least three months with a fractured ankle.
Despite the devastating injury, Morales remains positive and thanked fans earlier Monday as he tweeted, "Thanks for all the messages, I'm really grateful! This afternoon is the surgery and everything will be okay."
Fans and fellow MLS players have also taken to Twitter to express their support for Morales.
Morales' injury affected the remainder of the game against Chivas USA and the feeling it left remained after the game as well.
"It's difficult to deal with. You could see the emotions on a lot of the players faces that were on the field and it's difficult for them to get past it," said Coach Jason Kreis following the game.
This weekend's match against the Houston Dynamo will be a test for the players as they move past the 37th minute of last Saturday.
