Orlando City FC has been fined for an “espionage” incident that occurred against Sacramento Republic FC prior to their US Open Cup final, according to a report by ESPN.
The incident involves an Orlando city staff member who saw a Sacramento practice held in a central Florida park just before the cup final. Orlando City went on to win the final 3-0. It was the Major League Soccer team’s first US Open Cup trophy in its history.
US Soccer rules Orlando City fined for espionage
Sacramento noticed the staff member at training and subsequently asked him to leave the area. They also alleged that the staff member refused to leave the premises and stayed behind to watch practice. The USL Championship team went on to state that this staff member was asked many times in a 30-45 minute period.
After failing to ask the person to leave, Sacramento even parked vans near the area in an attempt to obstruct the staff member’s view. However, these efforts were unsuccessful as the person simply moved to a different location.
Although the US Soccer Federation issued a fine to the team, they were unable to determine if Orlando City officially sent the staff member to watch practice. For example, the USSF could not prove that any espionage or intelligence gathering took place. However, the governing body felt that his presence on the premises still warranted action. The individual in question allegedly claimed that he was there to meet a friend in the area.
Orlando City in violation of US Open Cup policies.
There is a clear rule in the USSF US Open manual on this subject. Section 306 states that “anyone may file a complaint with the Panel regarding an action or inaction of an Open Cup team, individual, group or organization participating in Open Cup competition.
“The Panel will determine whether the alleged conduct is or would be contrary to the good of the game. The Panel shall take such action as it deems appropriate with respect to any person involved in the complaint as provided in subsection (c) of this section.”
Loving every moment with the Cup ????⬆️ @opencup | #DaleMiAmor pic.twitter.com/eYFIflw3E8
— City of Orlando SC (@OrlandoCitySC) September 8, 2022
The rule goes on to suggest that a fine was the appropriate action. “Except for annulling the results of a match or ordering a replay of a match, the Panel may take any action it deems appropriate, including suspension or fine, or both, for any matter it deems under this policy.”
