Inter Miami wins, says D.C. United player used racial slur
MIAMI (AP) — Major League Soccer’s official investigation into a Washington, D.C. United player who said he used a racial slur when referring to an opponent was concluded Thursday with the club’s victory and league’s acknowledgement the slur originated from the rival club was the wrong one.
The league said in a statement its investigation of Jason Kreis had found the comments came during a heated exchange at Crew Stadium on May 27.
Columbus Crew SC center back Mattocks, who was suspended from the MLS club for four games in late August, was not suspended for using the slur and only received a written reprimand from the league.
It was Columbus Crew SC’s third loss in a four-game series with D.C. United.
Kreis, a former Crew SC player, apologized for making the comment, which resulted in a verbal assault on United’s then-unheralded goalkeeper Bill Hamid.
“Jason Kreis apologizes to Bill Hamid,” the statement said. “He sincerely apologizes to the DC United organization and all those who have been affected by his comment.”
United officials said last week the club would not discipline Kreis for using the racial slur in the exchange.
Crew midfielder Michael Parkhurst, an African-American, tweeted a statement from Kreis that indicated he regretted making the comment and that his intent was not to offend anyone.
“I said to the goalkeeper (Hamid) ‘You are a rookie,’” Kreis said in a text message to that reporter, Michael Lewis. “That was not the intention. The intention was to tell Bill (Hamid), ‘You are a rookie. It’s only going to get worse for you, and I will tell (expletive) about it.’”
Kreis also declined to participate in the league’s investigation which wrapped up Thursday, and the inquiry will be closed.
“Major League Soccer has completed its investigation into an alleged use of racial slurs by an MLS employee in the Crew Stadium locker room,” the league said in a statement provided to The Associated Press by a league spokeswoman.
“The employee, Jason Kreis,