Union midfielder Fafa Picault was suspended for three games on Friday by Major League Soccer for “use of offensive language during a preseason, doubleheader, closed-door scrimmage” against Orlando City on February 14. He was also fined an undisclosed amount. Orlando’s Pierre da Silva was hit with the same punishment over the incident.
Picault will miss the Union’s season opener against New England on Saturday (7 p.m., PHL17), the March 17 game against Columbus and the March 31 game against Colorado. The first two games are at home; the third is on the road.
The suspension is a big blow to the Union’s attack.