Chicago's Blanco Running Afoul

Cuauhtemoc Blanco isn't going to get away with his usual antics this time.

On Tuesday night at the Maryland Soccerplex, during the Chicago Fire's U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal loss, 2-1, to D.C. United, the notorious flopper and creative midfielder received a red card for a scuffle with United's Marc Burch. Burch also received his marching orders.

But now it looks like the former Mexico international is in trouble for several additional incidents. According to a D.C. spokesman, there is ample video evidence of his wrongdoing.

First, video has surfaced showing Blanco punching United's Clyde Simms late in the match. (Click here to see the incident.) The referee can be seen on the video with his back to the play at the moment that Blanco swings. According to Burch, Blanco also eye-gouged Simms, and the United spokesman says Simms has a three-inch bloodied scratch under his eye.

But Blanco was not done yet. Sources at the game report that after his sending off, Blanco did not go quietly. As he was walking off the field, he continued to yell at the referee. When the United field manager came over to escort Blanco off the field, the Fire midfielder headbutted the United employee in right cheek. According to a report in the Chicago Tribune, video exists of this incident as well, but the United spokesman would not confirm this.

He did say, however, that MLS and US Soccer officials have requested video of all the incidents.

The U.S. Open Cup is administered by US Soccer. A spokesman from MLS tells Goal.com it has no jurisdiction over Open Cup matches, so there is little chance that Blanco will face any disciplinary action from the league.

A spokesperson for US Soccer tells Goal.com that the disciplanary committee will meet "soon." The spokesman did not confirm the non-match-related incidents, but said Blanco "will definitely get one game for the red card. Beyond that, I don't know. Earlier in the tournament, an incident caused a player to receive a ban of three-games or three-years, depending on which came first. It wouldn't be suprisiing if there was something similarly severe in this case."

-- Greg Lalas, Goal.com