Clint Dempsey gets two-year US cup ban for outburst

Clint Dempsey has been banned from the US Open Cup for two years after ripping up a referee's notebook during a game.

The Seattle Sounders forward, 33, flicked the notebook out of Daniel Radford's hand, picked it up off the pitch and then tore it into pieces after a team-mate had been sent off.

The ex-Fulham and Spurs man was duly sent off, as Seattle ended with seven men in a 3-1 loss to Portland Timbers.

The US captain is banned for six games or two years - whichever is longer.

Dempsey, who had already been banned for three Major League Soccer games for the incident, has chosen not to contest the new punishment.

During the game, Brad Evans was sent off and was followed by Michael Azira - which resulted in Dempsey's extra-time outburst. Obafemi Martins also went off injured with all three substitutes used.

Dempsey, capped 112 times by the US, had to be restrained by team-mates and sarcastically applauded in the face of an assistant referee as he made his way off the pitch.