(Vancouver) Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini was suspended for a total of six games by MLS on Thursday.

The sanction stems from his actions on the field and his post-match comments about the officiating, after his team was eliminated during the league playoffs.

Sartini called referee Tim Ford’s performance a “disgrace” and joked that he would be a suspect if Ford was found dead.

The comments were made after the Whitecaps’ 1-0 loss to LAFC on Nov. 5 in Vancouver.

In the 95th minute, Sartini received a red card and was ejected from the match by officials.

In addition to the automatic one-match suspension caused by a red card, MLS added five more games to the margin in its case.

The additional punishment results in particular from entering the field in a confrontational manner, as well as from public criticism after the match.

Sartini was also fined $20,000 and required to undergo a league-approved behavioral evaluation.

The North American soccer referees’ union blasted Sartini’s comments, calling them “disgusting” and adding that they took rhetoric against officials to a “dangerous new level.”

Sartini apologized for his comments during the Whitecaps’ end-of-season press briefing.

” I’m sorry. There was no malicious intent, Sartini said then. I could have done much better and I’m sorry. »

Sartini began managing the Whitecaps on an interim basis in 2021.

The 47-year-old Italian recently signed a new contract until the end of 2025.