Major League Soccer announced Thursday evening that Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Andrew Putna used “derogatory remarks about a teammate’s national origin.” The announcement came as a result of an investigation the league started into the accident several weeks ago.
Putna said the remarks during an RSL first team training on Oct. 14, the league’s investigation found. From there, RSL reported the incident to the league, which later confirmed the accuracy of the account and that Putna “did make derogatory remarks referencing another player’s ethnicity.”
The Salt Lake Tribune has learned that RSL goalkeeper David Ochoa was the target of Putna’s remarks.
The league said Putna was suspended from all team activities “for a timeframe that included two matches.” while it conducted its investigation. Putna is now required to complete diversity and inclusion training before rejoining the team in any capacity, the league said, though him returning to the club seems unlikely considering the nature of the incident.
The last time Putna dressed for RSL was Sept. 25 against Portland, though he did not play. His last start was Sept. 4 against FC Dallas.
SB Nation website RSL Soapbox first reported the news of the incident and the league’s investigation.
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