Major League Soccer took a cold view of Los Angeles FC coach Steve Cherundolo's assertion that the snowy conditions for his club's 3-0 loss at Real Salt Lake were an "absolute joke."
MLS fined Cherundolo $10,000 on Wednesday for comments after the Saturday contest, saying in a statement they violated the league's public criticism policy.
Cherundolo was fuming after Saturday's match, saying the contest should not have gone ahead on the snow-covered pitch.
"It was an absolute joke we had to play today, he said. "It was one of the worst professional sporting events I've ever seen in my life."
The field had to be shoveled at halftime to make the pitch markings visible. To improve visibility officials introduced an orange ball in the second half.
"In my opinion, it was an absolute disgrace we had to play today," Cherundolo said.
