Newman Suspended Because of Fourth Yellow Card

Ron Newman on Friday missed only his third indoor game in seven years as coach of the Sockers after being suspended for one game by league officials.

Newman, who missed two other games because of family illness, was banned after he received his fourth yellow card of the season in a game Wednesday night against the Baltimore blast. Four yellow cards constitute a one-game suspension. He is the first coach or player to receive four yellow cards this season.

Yellow cards are given when players or coaches “persistently infringe on the laws, shows dissent toward the referee or is guilty of ungentlemanly conduct,” according to Major Indoor Soccer League rules.

Newman received his yellow cards--which carry a $200 fine--in the Sockers’ first two games of the season and in their last two games before Friday night. Because it is a new rule, Newman said he had no idea the four infractions would result in a suspension until the Sockers were notified by James Budish, MISL director of operations, late Friday morning.

Although the rule is not in the MISL rule book, teams were notified of the change before the season.

“Nobody ever warned me,” Newman said. “They (MISL league office) quite rightly could say you should have known.”

When Newman was asked what he said to referee Brian Hall to warrant a yellow card Wednesday night, Newman replied: “I told him, ‘You stupid man.’ ”

Newman watched his team beat the Tacoma Stars, 4-3, from the stands in the San Diego Sports Arena.