MLS star Josef Martinez suspended for 'detrimental conduct'

Atlanta United star Josef Martinez has been suspended by the MLS club due to his behaviour, after an incident that allegedly involved chicken and rice being thrown.

Martinez, who is well known for his quite remarkable penalty taking technique, was given a one week suspension by Atlanta, on Wednesday morning.

The decision to take him out of the team was due to "conduct detrimental to the team," a statement from the American team confirmed.

He is due to return to action with the club next Monday, which means he will miss the game against Toronto on Sunday, which could be very important considering the teams are separated by one point currently.

📰 | #ATLUTD announced today it has suspended Josef Martínez for one game.https://t.co/c53t6lxdQ5

— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) September 7, 2022

Whilst there has been no official report into the details of his conduct, sources gave more information on what went on to the Athletic.

According to the American owned outlet, there was an 'altercation' between the 29-year-old and manager Gonzalo Pineda following last weekend's loss to Portland Timbers.

The Venezuelan is said to have knocked over a table in the dressing room with food on it, "[Martínez] just knocks it all over and there’s chicken and rice all over the locker room," one source claimed, before Pineda confronted him.

Martinez's frustration may have come from the fact that he has been used less this season, and fallen out of favour under Pineda, compared with previous years.

He had to undergo surgery on an injury earlier in the year but since returning has been in and out of the team, with the manager referring to start Ronaldo Cisneros.

The Mexican only joined the team on loan in March but, despite being ahead of Martinez in the pecking order, he hasn't scored for six games, a run going back to the beginning of last month.

It's been a busy few days for the club, after defender Miles Robertson was arrested on Saturday night, on charge of misdemeanor theft by taking, according to a police report.

It's not the only controversy in the MLS from the weekend, although the other story does at least come from an on field incident.

New York Red Bulls midfielder Dru Yearwood was sent off in his side's defeat on Saturday night, for booting the ball into the stands in frustration.

Unfortunately for Yearwood he hit and injured a couple of fans in attendance and was given his marching orders, before jumping into the stand to try and console the injured fans.