MLS Disciplinary Committee fines Vancouver Whitecaps defender Édier Ocampo after Austin match

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

The MLS Disciplinary Committee has issued its rulings following Matchday 31 of the 2026 MLS season, including disciplinary action involving Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The league fined Whitecaps defender Édier Ocampo for violating the league’s policy regarding simulation/embellishment in the 96th+ minute of Vancouver’s match against Austin FC on October 17.

The committee also issued a fine to Austin FC defender Guilherme Biro for a simulation/embellishment violation in the 96th+ minute of Austin’s October 17 match against Vancouver. The league specified that the fine marked Biro’s second violation of the 2026 MLS season, indicating prior disciplinary history related to the same category of conduct within the current year.

Beyond the Vancouver–Austin matchup, the MLS Disciplinary Committee fined Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan for violating the league’s simulation/embellishment policy in the 84th minute of Philadelphia’s match against Charlotte FC on October 17. The ruling was issued after the committee reviewed incidents from that round of games.

FC Dallas forward Sam Sarver received two related punishments under the league’s disciplinary framework, with the MLS Disciplinary Committee fining him for an inappropriate gesture in the 102nd+ minute of Dallas’ October 17 match against the Houston Dynamo FC. The league also directed that Sarver will serve his red card suspension during FC Dallas’ next match, which is scheduled against the San Jose Earthquakes on October 24.

In addition to Sarver’s suspension, the league outlined that the match suspension for throwing/kicking an object toward fans will be served during FC Dallas’ next match against the Columbus Crew on October 28. The disciplinary committee’s update therefore differentiates between the red-card-related suspension and a separate suspension connected to an object-throwing/kicking incident.

The committee fined Columbus Crew midfielder Taha Habroune an undisclosed amount for violating the league’s policy regarding hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent in the 52nd minute of Columbus’ match against FC Cincinnati on October 18. The ruling again reflects the committee’s focus on specific on-field conduct categories rather than generic match discipline.

The disciplinary update also included findings tied to the Mass Confrontation Policy involving two clubs from the October 17 slate: the Portland Timbers and the Colorado Rapids. The MLS Disciplinary Committee found both teams in violation of the policy, with Portland receiving fines for the first time this season and Colorado receiving fines for a second time this season.

According to the committee’s statement, fines were issued to the club and head coach in both mass confrontation cases. For Portland, fines were issued to the Portland Timbers and head coach Martì Cifuentes. For Colorado, fines were issued to the Colorado Rapids and head coach Matt Wells, corresponding to the committee’s determination of first-time versus second-time policy violations.

In connection with the mass confrontation rulings, the committee also identified players who will be fined for inciting and/or escalating a mass confrontation. Portland Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis and defender Kamal Miller, along with Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Nico Hansen and defender Rob Holding, are included in the fines tied to those incidents.

Taken together, the Matchday 31 disciplinary rulings include fines for simulation/embellishment incidents affecting multiple players, additional action tied to on-field misconduct and red-card suspensions, and mass confrontation findings that carry both club and head-coach consequences as well as player fines.