Ricardo Clark does what so many MLS players have been tempted to do

By: Bob | October 1st, 2007

In a league that is often lacking players with distinct personalities, FC Dallas is as close as it comes to a true MLS villain. At least that is the case for many fans who have watched the talented Guatemalan forward push, pull and scratch his way to 81 goals scored in 137 games split between the LA Galaxy and FC Dallas. El Pescadito (the Little Fish), as he is sometimes called, does not lack for detractors amongst fans and players.

It is always interesting to see the reaction when a player who is not popular is thrust into the role of the victim. That is the position Ruiz is in following his team’s 3-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo Sunday. In the closing minutes of the game, Ruiz got tangled up in the box with Ricardo Clark with Clark taking his frustration out by viciously kicking Ruiz (the only video I’ve found of this is on MLSnet en espanol).

There is no doubt that Clark’s actions were wrong. Kicking a player on the ground with the intent to hurt is has no place in the game. Clark will undoubtedly be hit with a lengthy suspension – possibly longer than the current MLS record of 6 games that Andy Herron received earlier this year – and he will be docked pay. But will he be vilified in the press and in the court of public opinion?

My initial survey of MLS fan boards indicates he will not. The general sentiment seems to be that Ruiz had it coming to him and that Clark’s actions, while wrong, were not entirely unwelcome and he shouldn’t be punished too severely. Of course, if the roles were reversed and it was Ruiz who was the one doing the kicking the story would be a different one. People would be calling for Ruiz’s scalp.

What do you think? Should the league take into consideration the perpetrator and the victim in this case or should they base their punishment only on Clark’s actions?

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Category: MLS, World Football

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James McCormick

As gratifying as it is to see pescadito get his, it does have to be significantly punished. But more importantly it argues once again for post game video review to eliminate diving (and feigning injury like phantom blows to the face). If players know that their play will be reviewed and blatant diving were to get cards after the fact, and red ones I would argue when diving untouched in the box, they would stop. MLS should take the lead. I expect it will be the international norm some day.
Patrick

good for Clark I don't know about the rest of ya'll, but i hate Carlos Ruiz. Ruiz, "el Pescadito" (rightfully named for his flopping)pulled Clark down and had been flopping all game whenever Clark even breathed on Him. Ruiz should be a target and if he ever dives agian should recieve a caution for doing so, he should recieve no "benefit of the doubt." Oh and Ruiz was rightfully sent off for pulling Clark down, he should also recieve a suspension for inciting violence in a match. I am not condoning Clark, but i do Applaud him, he has done what i have wanted to do after watching the stupid "fish" for several years.
Ryan Nelson

Who hasn't, when playing a sport and being on the wrong end of a cheap shot, retalliate somehow? I never kicked anyone like that, but as a basketball player, I sure kicked a few ankles into awkward rolls. competitive spirits and frustrations are a bad combination, but the kid just lost it. nine games was harsh I think. give him four to five, and a bigger fine.
Junior

did anyone besides me have dvr and rewinded the replays to see it... because i saw when Ruiz hit his knee on clark while runing up, and if u look at Ruiz he takes a look at clark and slams his knee on clark's lower back, you can actually see clark's body move from the contact, after that he fell and kicked ruiz..most replays don't show the replay i saw, hopefully mls sees that too...just watch the longer replay like when there running in and you'll see it.....doesn't justify what clark did but doesnt justify ruiz either(both should have equal suspendtions)
Dex

Holy cow! Clark really laid into him. I don't know much about Ruiz but I'm prepared to believe he's as much of a dick as is reported here (the playacting on the video is outrageous - but I guess the kick didn't hurt that much or else he would have been holding the body part that Clarck actually connected with). But Clark has to sit down for several games. There are many other ways to 'get even' with players who are niggly as Ruiz apparently is (just ask Roy Keane). It sounds like Ruiz has been doing it himself and getting away with it for ages, so why do players on opposing teams not give him a taste of his own medicine?

As much as we might appreciate and understand Clark's retaliation, his actions are a detriment to himself, his team and the league as a whole. It was stupid and he has to be punished.
Aaron Schad

The public opinion has been that way because Ricardo Clark is American and Ruiz is from south of the border, so he must be Mexican right? And who watches MLS? American's. I am a FC Dallas fan and can see why Ruiz is a villian and do agree Ruiz flops around all over the field and I don't like it, but what Clark has no place in the game. He should be suspended for the rest of the season including the playoffs, anything else is a joke. If the roles were reversed Ruiz might be kicked out of the league.
PH

Clark *has* to receive a sizable suspension. But Ruiz and his flopping, rolling, head-holding nonsense represent all that's wrong in soccer, and the single biggest reason for the ridicule it gets in some quarters. (Does anyone remember the match a few years back when someone on the sideline got hit (with a towel, I think) in the midsection and fell to the ground holding his head?)
Betfair Kid

I understand why you can say Ruiz had it coming to him - he can infuriate people very easily. But like Scott said above, tangles like this are all part of the game. If everyone reacted as Clark did, players would be receiving their marching orders left right and centre.

I don't think the league should concentrate JUST on Clark's actions, but should he receive a lengthy ban and/or a fine, he couldn't really complain.
Sam

He maybe didn't "deserve" it, but he had it coming. Honestly, what a little bitch. Props to Clark, I don't care if what he did was wrong. I'm still pissed at him from the quarter-finals of the Gold Cup.
Scott

Dude are you crazy. I cant believe people that are saying that Ruiz deserved it. Is clark that much of a wimp that he cant take an elbow during the course of a game? Ruiz is a moron for doing it. Now hes out and like we need another excuse not to score.

But to say someone deserved to get kicked while on the ground is insane.
Karl

Ruiz had it coming, he got off lucky. I only wished Clark had finished the job or actually kicked Ruiz in the face, as that is what Ruiz wanted judging from his body language. Clark should be given a raise and/or medal.
Dynamo100%

Ruiz asked for it. His always instigating, but a lot of players are a bunch of pussies and dont do anything about it. It was the same last season when he would taunt Adrian Serioux who is know on the same team with Ruiz. I just wished Clark would have not kicked him on the floor. Its sad to see that Ruiz would act like he got kicked in the face, its a disgrace to professional athletes.
dhines

this is a perfect example of what happens when refs don't card diving/flopping as they should. I am a G's fan, and i have always hated ruiz. i have no respect for any player that is a straight up diver. and spare me the comments about comparing LD to ruiz, because there is no truth in it. i don't wish harm on ruiz, i just wish the ref's would card him for all the diving and flopping.
daryl

My understanding is that Ruiz kneed Clark in the back during their initial entanglement, hence Ruiz also receiving a red card.
Sam

Fuck Carlos Ruiz.
Someone's just kicked you like Clark has, you know he's gonna get a red and a suspension. Why the fuck would you flop around like that, have you no self-respect? I hope Carlos Ruiz gets a career-ending injury.
john

Wow. I'm amazed that there's even debate here. I don't care what kind of person Ruiz is. A player that flat out kicks another player who's laying on the ground while the ball is not in play should automatically be ejected and fined heavily, as should be the coach AND the club. There should be no tolerance.

On a level of personal honor, I can understand what Zidane did in the WC, but still - you just can't allow it. The famous quote goes "Soccer is a getleman's sport played by savages and Rugby's a savage sport played by gentlemen." Let's try to at least maintain the fecade of a gentleman's sport.
Laurie

There's a video up on YouTube now. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

I'm definitely contributing to Clark's "He Did it for the Fans" fine fund.
David Keyes

Seriously, what did Ruiz do? I mean, aside from be an asshole for as long as he's been in MLS. But what did he do specifically to incite Clark? That kick was vicious and must have been brought out by something.
Shane

In a comparison, if he's punished lightly cause the guy had it coming then, in the NHL, McSorley shouldn't have been handed a huge punishment cause Brashear is an ass hole to begin with. And the same with Bertuzzi cause he was instigated. And Claude Lemuex's cross check on Kris Draper should have got him at least half a season.

It would suck for some if they handed out an automatic game suspension for an elbow or high kick but it'd discourage players from recklessness more.

If he deliberately kicked him then he'll get a good ban but this is America and if it's not played 1000 times on ESPN and GASP'd at in horror he'll just get a slap on the wrist cause no one cared.
QJA

The video evidence screams provocation. I wonder if Ruiz didn't let slip a racial slur or some other kind of inflammatory statement a la Materazzi. Either way, Clark will be both punished and lauded for his reaction.
Andy @ Liquid Football

They should only punish Clark based on his actions. Surely Ruiz has been punished already for his actions previously (both officially and by most people hating his guts).

Plus, he's already had the humiliation of being kicked while being down.
Lucas

Whoa that's pretty vicious. Predictably, though, Ruiz rolls around holding his head after Clark kicked him in the chest. Crazy.