Fine and Suspension for Galaxy’s Ruiz

As expected, Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz was suspended Thursday and fined $1,000 by Major League Soccer for actions that led to a fractured left orbital bone suffered by Kansas City’s Carey Talley in the teams’ game last Saturday.

Ruiz’s two-game suspension begins with Saturday’s match at New York/New Jersey, but Ruiz was not planning to play against the MetroStars anyway. He is playing with his native Guatemala national team in an exhibition at the Home Depot Center Sunday against Honduras.

Ruiz said Wednesday night, before the suspension was handed down, that he was not skipping the trip in anticipation of a suspension.

“No, it has nothing to do with that,” he said. “Just flying back and forth and playing both Saturday and Sunday would be too much and leave me too tired.”

The MLS committee determined that on the play in question -- Ruiz and Talley both went up for a header -- Ruiz’s elbow to Talley’s face was “more akin to delivering a blow rather than merely warding off a challenge.” No foul was called on the play.

Neither Ruiz, the reigning league MVP and the Galaxy’s leading scorer with six goals, nor the Galaxy commented on the suspension. Ruiz will be eligible to play again June 28 against Dallas at the Home Depot Center.

-- Paul Gutierrez