Some disturbing news from Germany where U.S. men's national team midfielder Jermaine Jones plays for Schalke: he has been suspended for eight weeks (6 Bundesliga games, 2 Europa League games) for intentionally stepping on an opponent's injured foot.
Take it away AP
"After first saying it intended to appeal, Schalke said Thursday it will accept the penalty.
The control committee of the federation found Jones intentionally stepped on the left foot of Borussia Moenchengladbach midfielder Marco Reus during a Bundesliga match last month. Reus was nursing a broken left small toe and was playing with a specially designed shoe. He still scored two goals in a 3-1 win for his team.
The incident early in the game was not noticed by the referee, but was caught by television cameras. The disciplinary panel used video footage to file ''grave misconduct'' charges against Jones, who was ejected at the end of the match in an unrelated incident. It was the fourth red card of his career.
Jones is be banned from any competitive and exhibition matches until March 1. He will miss six Bundesliga games and two Europa League games but remains eligible for selection for the U.S. national team's exhibition game at Italy on Feb. 29.
Jones, who has made 14 appearances for the United States national team, apologized to Reus shortly after the incident."
Soccer is unlike football or hockey in the sense that teams aren't really required to have physical enforcers. Soccer is rougher than critics give it credit for but there's no place for bush league tactics. I haven't followed Jones' career close enough to know if he's always on the edge or this was a one time crazy lack of control. Let's all hope he learns his lesson and cleans his game up (steps off soapbox).
UPDATE 1/13: Jones was called into U.S. camp, since what else does he have to do at the moment, so look for him to play in the upcoming friendlies for the U.S. in January.
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