Vancouver’s Charles and Gbeke Are Handed 2-Game Suspensions For Infighting

In this past week’s USL Week in Review, I mentioned and linked to a fight between Vancouver Whitecaps teammates, Wesley Charles and Charles Gbeke that took place in the 85th minute with the Whitecaps leading.

The United Soccer Leagues and Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today that defender Wesley Charles and striker Charles Gbeke have received a one-match league suspension and an additional one-match club suspension.

Charles and Gbeke will both miss the Whitecaps matches at Montreal Impact this coming Saturday, June 20, and at Cleveland City Stars next Tuesday, June 23.

On Monday, the club announced that both players received monetary fines for an undisclosed amount. The fines and suspensions are the result of their unsportsmanlike behavior during the Whitecaps home match versus Miami FC Blues last Friday evening.

Both players’ fines will be directed to the Whitecaps Foundation, which is dedicated to helping to create British Columbia’s fittest generation of youth by 2020. For more information on the Whitecaps Foundation, please visit whitecapsfoundation.org.

“As a club, we do not condone any violent conduct on or off the field,” said Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi. “The events that took place near the end of Friday’s match are inexcusable and there are consequences the players must now face for their actions. Wesley and Charles are veteran players and have both taken full responsibility for their actions, are remorseful, and accept their discipline.”

“First and foremost, I want to apologize to the club for everything that happened, as it should never have happened and was very out of character for me,” said Charles. “I also want to apologize to the fans and all of my teammates for letting them down on Friday night.”

“I want to apologize to my teammates and coaches, as well as the whole Whitecaps organization,” said Gbeke. “I especially want to apologize to the fans because we let them down. The fans have always been gracious and supportive of us, so I’m hoping for their forgiveness and that they give me a second chance. I hope we can grow out of this situation and become closer as a team.”

“We have had a chance to speak with all involved parties and we are confident we can put the incident behind us,” added head coach Teitur Thordarson. “We are moving forward as a united team.”

Here is the Vancouver Whitecaps video highlights of the game. The tussle starts after frustration in a golden finishing opportunity for Marlon James and Charles Gbeke who initially started arguing. Watch at the 7:25 mark of the video.