MLS: Disciplinary Committee Hands Out Suspensions to Markanich and Valenzuela

Staff Writer
1 day ago
2 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

NEW YORK — Major League Soccer has announced several disciplinary rulings following Matchday 4 of the 2026 season. Both Houston Dynamo FC forward Nick Markanich and FC Cincinnati forward Gerardo Valenzuela have received extended suspensions and undisclosed fines for "serious foul play" incidents in their respective matches.

The decisions, made under Disciplinary Committee Parameter 2, underscore the league's continued effort to prioritize player safety and penalize dangerous challenges that go beyond the standard red card criteria.

Nick Markanich (Houston Dynamo FC)

Markanich has been suspended for one additional match (two matches total) following a red card incident in the 93rd+ minute of Houston’s match against the Portland Timbers on March 14. The forward was sent off late in the game after a challenge involving Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis, which left the keeper with a significant gash and blood on the pitch.

In addition to the suspension for serious foul play, the committee fined Markanich for failing to leave the field in a timely manner following his dismissal.

First Suspension (Red Card): Saturday, March 21 vs. FC Dallas.
Second Suspension (Additional): Saturday, April 4 vs. Seattle Sounders FC.

Gerardo Valenzuela (FC Cincinnati)

FC Cincinnati’s Gerardo "Dado" Valenzuela has also been handed a two-match total suspension for a challenge in the 69th minute of Cincinnati’s 6-1 loss to the New England Revolution on March 15.

Valenzuela had opened the scoring in the 19th minute of that match, but his afternoon ended early after he leapt dangerously to reclaim a loose ball, coming down on the foot of New England’s Ilay Feingold. The straight red card was deemed "serious foul play" by the committee, triggering the extra game ban.

First Suspension (Red Card): Sunday, March 22 vs. CF Montréal.
Second Suspension (Additional): Saturday, April 4 vs. New York Red Bulls.

Impact on the Clubs

Both suspensions come at a critical time as teams navigate the early-season standings. For Houston, losing Markanich is a blow to their attacking depth ahead of a massive Texas Derby against FC Dallas. For Cincinnati, Valenzuela's absence will be felt in the midfield, especially as he had just found his scoring touch before the dismissal.

The MLS Disciplinary Committee reiterated that these fines and additional match bans are intended to deter "detrimental conduct" and maintain a high standard of professional behavior on the field.