After days of speculation and a couple of delays, the MLS disciplinary committee handed down their decision regarding the suspension of Brian Mullan today, suspending the Colorado Rapids midfielder 10 games and fining him $5000 for his reckless tackle on Seattle Sounders winger Steve Zakuani. Mullan was shown a straight red card for the tackle, which resulted in a broken tibia and fibula for Zakuani. Zakuani underwent successful surgery in Colorado for the injury.

Seattle Sounders fans, along with many neutrals, have called for a long suspension and a hefty fine for Mullan, and there’s no doubt that they should be satisfied with the disciplinary committee’s decision. The suspension is notably longer than the one that Ricardo Clark received while playing for the Houston Dynamo, when he was suspended for nine games for an intentional kick to the chest of Carlos Ruiz, who was down on the ground.

As a point of clarification,  the suspension is for nine additional games after the normal red card suspension is over, making the suspension 10 total games.