Major League Soccer Bans Top Goal-Scorer Cristian Arango Four Matches For Harassment

Major League Soccer leading goalscorer Cristian Arango of Real Salt Lake was suspended for four games by the league on Monday for violating the MLS Anti-Harassment Policy. The 29-year-old Colombian forward will miss MLS matches on Wednesday at Los Angeles FC and Saturday at Colorado, plus the MLS All-Star Game on July 24 and Real Salt Lake’s first match in the Leagues Cup on August 1 at home against Atlas. Arango has scored 17 goals and set up 11 others over 23 matches this season to top the scoring charts.

The suspension came after Arango received a yellow card for an altercation with the Portland Timbers in the match on Saturday.

It is unknown if the violation happened during or after the game in Providence Park.

Arango will miss the next two MLS games, the MLS All-Star Game, and Real Salt Lake’s first Leagues Cup game.

RSL has been a top team in the West this season with a lot of the credit being owed to the Colombian forward.

With 17 goals and 11 assists on the year, Arango has contributed on 28 of Real’s 48 goals.

In 2021, Arango was the MLS Newcomer of the Year with 14 goals in 17 matches for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Real Salt Lake is level with LAFC and the Galaxy atop the Western Conference on 43 points.

Read also. Real Salt Lake Bolsters Attack, Brings In Forward Benji Michel From Orlando City

Real Salt Lake chose to be proactive instead of reactive by bringing in forward Benji Michel with a few big games coming up on the schedule.

RSL traded for Michel’s MLS Right of First Refusal from Orlando City SC in exchange for the better 2025 second-round draft selection and $50,000 in 2026 general allocation money.