Philadelphia Union defender Kai Wagner’s suspension for violating Major League Soccer’s on-field discrimination policy has been lifted just in time for the team’s opening game of the season. Wagner was originally given a three-game suspension in November during last season’s playoffs after being accused of using a racial slur against New England Revolution forward Bobby Wood. The incident occurred in the 86th minute of Game 1, where Wagner allegedly used a German word that is considered racist towards Asians towards Wood.
Despite the heavy allegations against him, Wagner has completed the league’s new restorative practices program, leading to the lifting of his suspension for the upcoming game against the Chicago Fire. This is a surprising turn of events, as the suspension was originally slated to carry over into the new season. The MLS and its players’ union have also recently introduced a new joint anti-discrimination policy in collaboration with the Black Players for Change group. This new policy takes a restorative approach to addressing and resolving issues of discrimination on the field.
Wagner, now entering his sixth season with Philadelphia, has a solid track record in the league. He was named an MLS All-Star in both 2021 and 2022, and was also selected for the MLS Best XI in 2022. His on-field performance has been commendable, which makes the accusations of using a racial slur all the more shocking. On the other hand, Wood’s background as part Japanese and African-American adds another layer of complexity to the situation. It is worth noting that Wood himself speaks German, having played in Germany for 14 years at both the youth and professional levels.
With Wagner’s suspension now lifted, the Philadelphia Union will be able to field him in their opening game of the regular season against the Chicago Fire. This game will be an important test for both Wagner and the team, as they look to put this controversy behind them and focus on their performance on the field. The fans will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how Wagner responds to this incident and how the team as a whole handles the situation. It remains to be seen how this issue will affect the team’s dynamics moving forward, but for now, all eyes will be on the season opener and Wagner’s performance on the field.