Once A Metro - The kick that felled Karl OuimetteAccept no substituteshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/21683/metro-fave.jpg2017-05-06T11:00:42-04:00http://www.onceametro.com/rss/stream/113994992017-05-06T11:00:42-04:002017-05-06T11:00:42-04:00Romeo Parkes has re-signed with Pittsburgh Riverhounds in USL
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<figcaption>Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Did not see that coming.</p> <p>On May 7, 2016, Romeo Parkes made himself famous. And unemployed.</p>
<p>In a game between the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a> II, Parkes gave the strong impression of wanting to paralyze defender <span>Karl Ouimette</span>. Enraged by something that had taken place between the two players, the forward unleashed <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/7/11617670/romeo-parkes-kick-nyrb-ii-karl-ouimette-new-york-red-bulls-ii-usl-pittsburgh-riverhounds-video">a kick to the RBNY center-back's spine</a> that was shocking to all who saw it. And a lot of people saw it, because that sort of on-field violence doesn't take long to go viral.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q8uPv9Q3eF4" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p><a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/soccer/2016/05/08/Riverhounds-terminate-top-scorer-Parkes-after-violent-incident-in-New-York-Red-Bulls-II-game/stories/201605080190">Early reports on the incident</a> described Parkes as "inconsolable" afterwards. His head coach at the time, Mark Steffens, told <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/soccer/2016/05/08/Riverhounds-terminate-top-scorer-Parkes-after-violent-incident-in-New-York-Red-Bulls-II-game/stories/201605080190">the <i>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</i></a><i> </i>the player was "bawling" in the locker room: "Mad at what he did. Mad at himself that he lost his cool."</p>
<p>He did a little more than lose his cool: he lost his mind and that caused him to lose his job. Within a day, his contract was terminated by the Riverhounds. USL followed with <a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/646599?referrer_id=2349190">a season-long suspension</a>. A couple of months later, FIFA weighed in with <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/7/11/12155978/romeo-parkes-gets-worldwide-fifa-ban-for-kicking-karl-ouimette-isidro-metapan-new-york-red-bulls">a world-wide suspension</a>: Parkes was banned from soccer anywhere in the world where FIFA had a say (which is most places) until the end of October, 2016.</p>
<p>Parkes had started the 2016 USL season by scoring five goals in six games for Pittsburgh, showing the sort of form that one would expect to attract the attention of bigger clubs. With one moment of anger, he got the attention of the world - and put his career on hold.</p>
<p>If Ouimette had been seriously injured, it is possible Parkes' career would have ended almost instantly, but by the time FIFA handed down its ban, it was clear Parkes would play pro soccer again. He had a plan to return to his former club - Isidro Metapan in El Salvador - and that is what he did once he had served his suspension. Parkes has since scored <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://us.soccerway.com/players/romeo-parkes/95548/">nine goals in 29 appearances</a> in the Salvadoran top flight - which is as many as he had managed for Metapan over three seasons in his previous stint with the club.</p>
<p>Karl Ouimette has moved on too. Fortunate to escape serious injury from Parkes' kick, he saw out the 2016 season<a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/10/31/13480648/karl-ouimette-loan-to-jacksonville-armada-a-bust-nasl-new-york-red-bulls"> on loan to Jacksonville Armada in NASL</a>. He was released by RBNY at the end of the season, and landed with San Francisco Deltas, where he has been getting <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/players/karl-william-ouimette/185937/">regular starts</a> in the team's inaugural NASL campaign.</p>
<p>And that seemed to be the end of that: Parkes made a big mistake, suffered the consequences, took his career back a step to regroup; Ouimette moved on with his career also. It seemed unlikely we'd hear much about Romeo Parkes in US soccer again.</p>
<p>Certainly we wouldn't be hearing about Parkes in Pittsburgh. Riverhounds owner Tuffy Shallenberger <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fsport%2F2016%2F05%2F11%2Ftuffy-shallenberger-i-wanted-to-sack-romeo-parkes-immediately%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.onceametro.com%2F2017%2F5%2F6%2F15563116%2Fromeo-parkes-re-signs-with-pittsburgh-riverhounds-karl-ouimette-new-york-red-bulls-usl" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">told the Daily Telegraph</a> he'd made up his mind to fire the player within 10 minutes of the "kick heard round the world". <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fsport%2F2016%2F05%2F11%2Ftuffy-shallenberger-i-wanted-to-sack-romeo-parkes-immediately%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.onceametro.com%2F2017%2F5%2F6%2F15563116%2Fromeo-parkes-re-signs-with-pittsburgh-riverhounds-karl-ouimette-new-york-red-bulls-usl" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">He told Telegraph reporter Bob Williams</a>, "he won't be playing for Pittsburgh again - I can tell you that".</p>
<p>Shallenberger also described himself as a "hothead' in that interview, which might help explain his change of heart. In the comments he issued to the press on May 5, 2017 - just shy of a year after the matter that saw Parkes banished from Pittsburgh - the Riverhounds owner described how he had arrived at the decision to re-hire a player he had said would never return to his team:</p>
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<p><span>Romeo has shown tremendous improvement and maturity as an individual and expressed remorse for his actions last year. I fully believe he is more than deserving of a second chance to help improve this club. I look forward to embracing his contributions to the Riverhounds organization both on and off the field.</span></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/8/11622782/romeo-parkes-issues-apology-for-the-kick-that-felled-karl-ouimette-new-york-red-bulls">Parkes apologized</a> to everyone he could think of <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/8/11628014/romeo-parkes-did-apologize-to-karl-ouimette-and-now-hes-letting-us-know-new-york-red-bulls-usl">almost immediately</a>, it seemed. He was reportedly crying in the aftermath of the incident. Whatever remorse Shallenberger wanted to see was surely evident almost as soon as the player landed in the locker room.</p>
<p>As for "improvement and maturity" - well, he is unquestionably older than he used to be, and there do not seem to have been any reports of on-field assaults involving Parkes from El Salvador. But he also diidn't seem prone to attempting to maim opponents before he landed in Pittsburgh. He would appear to have improved and matured back to the not-a-threat-to-his-fellow-players sort of guy he was thought to be before he lashed out at Ouimette.</p>
<p>All that to say that remorse, maturity, and "improvement as an individual" perhaps have less to do with Parkes' return to Pittsburgh than the simple fact that he's served his ban.</p>
<p>That and, as <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/soccer/2016/05/08/Riverhounds-terminate-top-scorer-Parkes-after-violent-incident-in-New-York-Red-Bulls-II-game/stories/201605080190">Megan Ryan wrote for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette back on May 8, 2016</a> - the day after the assault that made Parkes famous for all the wrong reasons:</p>
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<p><span>The Riverhounds have a history of second chances. Starting defender Willie Hunt returned to the team after an arrest for cocaine possession in October 2015 while with the North American Soccer League’s Tampa Bay Rowdies.</span></p>
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<p>Despite the protestations of the team's owner in the heat of the moment, Pittsburgh is a club willing to forgive and perhaps forget.</p>
<p>Romeo Parkes seems happy to play his part in the theater of apology, offering a suitably contrite statement on his return to the scene of his crime:</p>
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<p><span>It is with humility and excitement that I am returning to the Riverhounds. My main objective is to deliver quality soccer and exemplify sportsmanship, and have the opportunity to earn respect, both as a person and a soccer player. Not only have I learned my lesson, but I am more determined than ever to have a positive impact on my community, my team and to make a difference on the field.</span></p>
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<p>He is <a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/789393?referrer_id=2333971">reported to have signed a deal for 2017 with options for the next two seasons</a>. The Riverhounds' next game is on May 13, against Ottawa Fury - Parkes is expected to be available to play.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2017/5/6/15563116/romeo-parkes-re-signs-with-pittsburgh-riverhounds-karl-ouimette-new-york-red-bulls-uslAustin Fido2017-01-17T21:28:36-05:002017-01-17T21:28:36-05:00Karl Ouimette signs with San Francisco Deltas
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<figcaption>Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The former RBNY man has found a club for 2017.</p> <p>Canadian defender <span>Karl Ouimette</span> was released by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a> at <a href="http://www.metrofanatic.com/team/player.jsp?ID=307">the end of the 2016 season</a>. It was a turbulent year for the 24-year-old. He briefly won a starting role in RBNY's first team after injury created opportunity for some of the squad's young players. After the Red Bulls decided to look elsewhere to shore up their back line, he was loaned down to the club's USL squad, where he suffered <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/8/11635458/karl-ouimette-romeo-parkes-on-field-kick-new-york-red-bulls-pittsburgh-riverhounds-usl">a kick to the back</a> that carried his name all over the world. Once the effects of that experience had worn off, he was loaned out of RBNY altogether: sent to Jacksonville Armada, where he had a short-lived stint as a starter before <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/10/31/13480648/karl-ouimette-loan-to-jacksonville-armada-a-bust-nasl-new-york-red-bulls">struggling to get any minutes at all </a>once the coach who had signed off on his loan - Tony Meola - was dismissed.</p>
<p>Currently, Ouimette is training with the Canada Men's National Team, hoping to be selected to the squad to play Bermuda on January 22.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CANMNT?src=hash">#CANMNT</a> wrapped up their afternoon training session in Ft. Lauderdale. <a href="https://t.co/COUBCdPPqD">pic.twitter.com/COUBCdPPqD</a></p>
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN/status/821498070961569792">January 17, 2017</a>
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<p>While he works out, his agent has been busy, securing his client a pro gig for the season ahead. Ouimette will <a href="https://medium.com/sfdeltas/team-news-three-more-signed-players-make-eleven-595570f01d65#.t3rk52jnt">join San Francisco Deltas for their inaugural season in NASL</a>.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Karl W. Ouimette, Cristian Portilla & Kenny Teijsse are the latest round of players to sign w/ the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SFDeltas?src=hash">#SFDeltas</a>.<br><br>More: <a href="https://t.co/qJv3pOJliK">https://t.co/qJv3pOJliK</a> <a href="https://t.co/yW5drmi7LJ">pic.twitter.com/yW5drmi7LJ</a></p>
— San Francisco Deltas (@sfdeltas) <a href="https://twitter.com/sfdeltas/status/821506470571192321">January 17, 2017</a>
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<p>He is linking up with one of the more admired coaches in North American soccer. Deltas head coach <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Dos_Santos">Marc Dos Santos</a> took Ottawa Fury to the NASL SoccerBowl in 2015, and then took Swope Park Rangers to the USL Championship game in 2016. Both finals were lost, but back-to-back title challenges with different teams in different leagues is a rare and impressive achievement.</p>
<p>Dos Santos is presumably not unfamiliar with Ouimette. The Quebecois coach started his career at Trois-Rivieres Attak before moving on to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/">Montreal Impact</a>. Ouimette followed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Ouimette">the same path</a> at roughly the same sort of time, turning pro with L'Impact the season after Dos Santos left the club.</p>
<p>This is the second time since leaving Montreal that Ouimette has been scooped up by a former Impact coach. <span>Jesse Marsch</span> was head coach of the Canadian MLS club in 2012, the year Ouimette turned pro. Now the defender will play for Marsch's Montreal predecessor.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2017/1/17/14305758/karl-ouimette-signs-for-nasl-san-francisco-deltas-marc-dos-santosAustin Fido2016-10-31T16:10:22-04:002016-10-31T16:10:22-04:00Looks like Karl Ouimette's loan to NASL was a bust
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<figcaption>Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The New York Red Bulls defender loan stint in NASL is over, and he doesn't seem to have gained much from it.</p> <p><span>Karl Ouimette</span> is unlikely to look back on 2016 as a highlight of his pro soccer career. The 24-year-old was handed an unexpected opportunity for regular starts for the <a href="https://www.onceametro.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Red Bulls</a> this year when a succession of injuries blighted the first team's defensive corps in the opening weeks of the MLS regular season. Ouimette appeared in <a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/karl-ouimette">seven of RBNY's first eight league games, starting in six of them</a>.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, his run as a starter coincided with the disastrous run of form that threatened to torpedo the Red Bulls' 2016 before it had really begun. Ouimette made his last appearance of the year for RBNY on April 24, in the 3-2 home win over Orlando that signaled the end of the team's horrendous season-opening slump. But no one knew it was the end of the slump at the time. On April 29, RBNY head coach <span>Jesse Marsch</span> opted to start <span>Ronald Zubar</span> and <span>Chris Duvall</span> in the center of defense, and was rewarded with <a href="http://www.metrofanatic.com/story.jsp?ID=7169">a 4-0 win</a> over <a href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">FC Dallas</a>. That was also the day Aurelien Collin's signing <a href="http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2016/04/29/new-york-red-bulls-acquire-defender-aurelien-collin-orlando-city-sc">was announced</a>, and the veteran center back made his first start for RBNY <a href="http://www.metrofanatic.com/story.jsp?ID=7171">on May 6</a> (against the team he had just left, Orlando).</p>
<p>Ouimette was loaned down to NYRB II for a run out against Pittsburgh Riverhounds on May 7. He finished that match as perhaps the most famous fourth-string CB in RBNY history, the victim of <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/7/11617670/romeo-parkes-kick-nyrb-ii-karl-ouimette-new-york-red-bulls-ii-usl-pittsburgh-riverhounds-video">a shocking on-field assault by a blind-with-rage Romeo Parkes</a>.</p>
<p>There was still a long season ahead. It was clear the Red Bulls didn't think Ouimette was the immediate answer to their defensive issues, but perhaps he would play a little USL with NYRB II and wait for the chance for more first-minutes in CONCACAF Champions League or <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/us-open-tennis" class="sbn-auto-link">US Open</a> Cup.</p>
<p>Instead, however, once Ouimette had recovered from the career-threatening kick to the back he suffered in his only appearance of the season for the II team, the player was sent on <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/6/22/12009326/report-karl-ouimette-loaned-to-nasl-jacksonville-armada-mls-new-york-red-bulls">a season-long loan to NASL's Jacksonville Armada</a>.</p>
<p>Under the guidance of former Metrostar and Red Bull Tony Meola, Ouimette made six appearances (five starts) for the Armada. But Meola was fired <a href="http://www.espnfc.com/north-american-soccer-league/story/2925102/nasls-jacksonville-armada-fire-tony-meola-as-coach-after-nine-months">on August 7</a>, since when Ouimette has had <a href="http://www.armadafc.com/roster/karl-ouimette">one minute of competitive playing time for Jacksonville</a>.</p>
<p>The Armada has played 14 league games since Meola left the club, and Ouimette has made one garbage-time appearance in that stretch. Jacksonville closed out a forgettable season with a 3-2 win over Tampa Bay Rowdies on October 30, securing <a href="http://www.armadafc.com/full-schedule#tabs-6">an 11th-place finish in the 12-team NASL table for the Fall Season</a>. Ouimette's loan is presumably over, but he is not on RBNY's roster for the post-season. Indeed, he is not on RBNY's official roster at all at the moment, <a href="http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/players">per the club's website</a> (which isn't the most reliable source, since Ouimette's <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/8/22/12587404/official-anatole-abang-loan-to-hobro-ik-for-2016-17-season-cameroon-Les-Lions-Indomptables">fellow exile</a> - <span>Anatole Abang</span> - is still listed; but it's something).</p>
<p>Ouimette has been getting regular call-ups and occasional appearances for his national team, Canada, throughout the season. But his club career is stalled. Not irretrievably, and it is not RBNY's fault that Jacksonville changed coaches and stopped giving Ouimette time. But the objective of his loan to NASL was surely that he play more than a minute in the last three months. (What's that? Yes, the objective of his loan was most likely to clear space for new signings, but it wouldn't have hurt RBNY if Ouimette had also made a name for himself in NASL.)</p>
<p>Ouimette's loan to Jacksonville looks like a bust. It's primary purpose was doubtless to allow for summer acquisitions, and in that sense it was perhaps a success. But the player's place on the roster has effectively been taken by NYRB II's Aaron Long (of similar age and on-field skill set), and he does not appear to have a future at RBNY.</p>
<p>Incidentally, Romeo Parkes was <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/7/11/12155978/romeo-parkes-gets-worldwide-fifa-ban-for-kicking-karl-ouimette-isidro-metapan-new-york-red-bulls">banned from all soccer by FIFA</a> for "<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fsport%2F2016%2F05%2F08%2Fus-soccer-player-romeo-parkes-faces-lengthy-ban-for-shocking-kic%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.onceametro.com%2F2016%2F10%2F31%2F13480648%2Fkarl-ouimette-loan-to-jacksonville-armada-a-bust-nasl-new-york-red-bulls" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">the cheap shot heard round the world</a>". He has served that suspension and can play professionally again. The Jamaican forward has <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/players/romeo-parkes/95548/">returned to Isidro Metapan</a> in El Salvador, where he played prior to his ill-fated stint with Pittsburgh Riverhounds. In his first competitive game since May 7, Parkes scored to help Metapan to <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/matches/2016/10/30/el-salvador/primera-division/asociacion-deportiva-isidro-metapan/cd-universidad-de-el-salvador/2266898/">a 2-0 league win</a>.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2016/10/31/13480648/karl-ouimette-loan-to-jacksonville-armada-a-bust-nasl-new-york-red-bullsAustin Fido2016-07-11T22:37:03-04:002016-07-11T22:37:03-04:00FIFA hands Parkes global ban for kicking Ouimette
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<figcaption>Valeriano Di Domenico/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The final word on the "cheap shot heard around the world"?</p> <p>Back in May, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romeo_Parkes">Romeo Parkes</a> briefly made himself, <span>Karl Ouimette</span>, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, and NYRB II famous for all the wrong reasons. <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/7/11617670/romeo-parkes-kick-nyrb-ii-karl-ouimette-new-york-red-bulls-ii-usl-pittsburgh-riverhounds-video/in/11399499">One moment of madness</a> saw the Jamaican striker slam a cleated foot into Ouimette's back - and within hours it was (<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fsport%2F2016%2F05%2F08%2Fus-soccer-player-romeo-parkes-faces-lengthy-ban-for-shocking-kic%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.onceametro.com%2F2016%2F7%2F11%2F12155978%2Fromeo-parkes-gets-worldwide-fifa-ban-for-kicking-karl-ouimette-isidro-metapan-new-york-red-bulls" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">per the Telegraph's Bob Williams</a>) "the cheap shot heard around the world."</p>
<p>There were swift consequences of his loss of temper, control and any sense of concern for the well-being of a fellow player: Parkes was <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/8/11635512/pittsburgh-riverhounds-terminate-romeo-parkes-contract-karl-ouimette-kick-new-york-red-bulls/in/11399499">cut by his club</a> (Pittsburgh Riverhounds), <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/9/11645590/usl-suspends-romeo-parkes-for-the-rest-of-2016-karl-ouimette-new-york-red-bulls-kick/in/11399499">banned by the league</a> (USL), and roundly chastised from <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/8/11634908/karl-ouimette-romeo-parkes-new-york-red-bulls-on-field-assault-usl-twitter-reaction/in/11399499">all corners of the internet</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.onceametro.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Red Bulls</a> and Canada defender Ouimette recovered fully from the assault and is currently on loan to <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/7/10/12139518/new-york-red-bulls-loanee-karl-ouimette-debuts-for-nasl-jacksonville-armada">Jacksonville Armada in NASL</a>. Parkes returned to Isidro Metapan, the Salvadoran club with whom he won <a href="http://us.soccerway.com/players/romeo-parkes/95548/">two league titles</a> before his ill-fated move to the USA.</p>
<p>But the repercussions of the kick that felled Karl Ouimette are ongoing. On Friday, July 8, <a href="http://rjrnewsonline.com/sports/domestic-ban-for-reggae-boy-extended-worldwide">Jamaican outlet RJR reported</a> the Jamaica Football Federation had been notified by FIFA that Parkes is suspended from all soccer that the sport's global governing body has authority over. Until October 23, 2016.</p>
<p>The ban can be appealed, though it appears neither egregious (Parkes will miss the first two or three months of most seasons around the world - hardly career-ending) nor unjustified. The evidence against Parkes is clear and unambiguous:</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cD25cMvX_AU" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>The suspension does throw a wrench in Isidro Metapan's plan to sign Parkes for the coming season, but the club's initial reaction appears to be that it is <a href="http://www.culebritamacheteada.com.sv/metapan-esperara-a-romeo-parkes/">willing to wait</a>.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2016/7/11/12155978/romeo-parkes-gets-worldwide-fifa-ban-for-kicking-karl-ouimette-isidro-metapan-new-york-red-bullsAustin Fido2016-05-11T16:36:17-04:002016-05-11T16:36:17-04:00Ouimette suspended for 3 games by USL
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<figcaption>Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>USL suspends Ouimette for three games, and sheds a little light on what passed between him and Romeo Parkes before THAT kick.</p> <p>If you forgot that <span>Karl Ouimette</span> was sent off in the <a href="https://www.onceametro.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Red Bulls</a> II's game against Pittsburgh Riverhounds <i>before</i> he got clattered in the back by Romeo Parkes: it's understandable; there were other concerns.</p>
<p>But Ouimette was red-carded fair and square for his part in the fracas that also saw Parkes instructed to leave the field, and that subsequently saw the (former) Riverhounds forward jettison all sense and some part of his career in pursuit of <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/8/11635458/karl-ouimette-romeo-parkes-on-field-kick-new-york-red-bulls-pittsburgh-riverhounds-usl">exacting some revenge on the RBNY defender</a>.</p>
<p>The reason Ouimette's back was turned for Parkes to kick was because he had been sent off. He was leaving the field.</p>
<p>And a red card carries with it an automatic suspension, so no surprise that USL's "Discipline Report" carries news of a suspension for Karl Ouimette:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>Also from that match, NYRB II's Karl Ouimette was sent off and was issued a three-game suspension, which he will begin serving </span><span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">Saturday</span></span><span> against the Richmond Kickers and also on </span><span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">May 21 and 28</span></span><span>.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>OK. So the RBNY defender is going to be unavailable to NYRB II for its next three games in USL (and the league is helpfully spelling out when those games are because, we assume, Ouimette is technically just a loanee to NYRB II, and not necessarily available for any match unless RBNY makes him so - so he's suspended for three specific games, whether he was ever intended to play in them or not). That's...wait, THREE games?</p>
<p>The same reports carries news of other suspensions for the same basic infraction - a red card:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>Among other disciplinary notes, Bethlehem Steel FC's <span>Walter Restrepo</span>, Orange County Blues FC's Akwafei Ajeakwa, Saint Louis FC's Chad Bond and the Swope Park Rangers' Oumar Ballo all received one-game suspensions when they were sent off from their respective games last week and will serve their infractions this weekend.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>So why three games for Ouimette?</p>
<p>USL responded to <i>Once A Metro's </i>question with a concise and clear description of its ruling, stating that the league's investigation into the matter - most notably, the account of one of the assistant referees at the game in question - had revealed that Ouimette and Parkes had been "punching each other with closed fists - Ouimette initialy and Parkes in retaliation."</p>
<p>The disciplinary committee had therefore ruled both players should be handed three-game suspensions for the incident that provoked their sending off. The season-long suspension handed to Parkes was exclusively based on his subsequent action: kicking Ouimette in the back after the referee had instructed both players to leave the field.</p>
<p>In effect, USL's suspension of Ouimette is sending a message: on-field fighting will attract more than the standard suspension. And although Parkes' season-long ban was announced first, the league is careful to explain it was applied for the subsequent assault on Ouimette, which sends another message: no matter what the provocation, you cannot kick an opponent in the back with clear intent to harm and escape quick and severe disciplinary action.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/11/11658836/new-york-red-bulls-karl-ouimette-suspended-by-usl-for-three-games-romeo-parkes-kickAustin Fido2016-05-10T16:06:04-04:002016-05-10T16:06:04-04:00Karl Ouimette says he is OK
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<figcaption>Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The New York Red Bulls' center back has announced he is OK.</p> <p>Since Saturday, there has been a lot of talk about <span>Karl Ouimette</span>. Mostly, it has been concern for his health and outrage at the brutal kick to the back that jeopardized his career.</p>
<p>Though there has been encouraging news about his subsequent recovery, we have not heard directly from Ouimette himself, nor have we heard any conclusive report that he is likely to pull through without any long-term effects on his ability to play soccer.</p>
<p>The latter may be a long time coming, since a back injury will likely be handled with some care and attention by the <a href="https://www.onceametro.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Red Bulls</a>. But the former - word on his condition from the mam himself - has now been addressed.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just got some good news, nothing is broken. I still have some pain but it could have been a lot worse. Thanks for the support!!</p>
— Karl Ouimette (@karlouimette) <a href="https://twitter.com/karlouimette/status/730115687256080386">May 10, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Great news! Get well soon, Karl.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/10/11652452/karl-ouimette-is-ok-new-york-red-bulls-romeo-parkes-pittsburgh-riverhounds-usl-kickAustin Fido2016-05-09T19:08:16-04:002016-05-09T19:08:16-04:00USL suspends Romeo Parkes for the rest of 2016
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<figcaption>Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Jamaican won't play in USL again, at least for this year.</p> <p>The United Soccer League has weighed in with its ruling on "<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fsport%2F2016%2F05%2F08%2Fus-soccer-player-romeo-parkes-faces-lengthy-ban-for-shocking-kic%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.onceametro.com%2F2016%2F5%2F9%2F11645590%2Fusl-suspends-romeo-parkes-for-the-rest-of-2016-karl-ouimette-new-york-red-bulls-kick" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">the cheap shot heard round the world</a>" (per The Telegraph's Bob Williams), aka Romeo Parkes' shocking assault on the New York Red Bulls' Karl Ouimette on Saturday night.</p>
<p>In the immediate aftermath of the incident, USL promised a full investigation. Two days later, that investigation is concluded. <a href="http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/646599">The USL announced today</a> that Parkes is suspended for the rest of the season, and the league's 2016 playoffs. The player has also been fined.</p>
<p>USL President Jake Edwards was quoted in the official release:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span>Player safety is paramount and any type of behavior that is detrimental to the well-being of our players will not be tolerated</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Parkes had <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/8/11635512/pittsburgh-riverhounds-terminate-romeo-parkes-contract-karl-ouimette-kick-new-york-red-bulls">his contract terminated by Pittsburgh Riverhounds</a> the day after his on-field meltdown.</p>
<p>The USL ruling does not appear to prevent the player from finding a new club this season, but he won't play in USL again this year.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/9/11645590/usl-suspends-romeo-parkes-for-the-rest-of-2016-karl-ouimette-new-york-red-bulls-kickAustin Fido2016-05-09T15:30:05-04:002016-05-09T15:30:05-04:00Report: Ouimette bruised but unbowed
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<figcaption>Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Encouraging news out of Monday's RBNY training session.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.onceametro.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Red Bulls</a> spent much of the weekend - at least the part from Saturday night through Sunday - declining requests for comment on the status of <span>Karl Ouimette</span>.</p>
<p>If you missed it, the Canadian defender was booted in the back by (former) Pittsburgh Riverhounds forward Romeo Parkes. And everything else on the matter can be found <a href="http://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/8/11635458/karl-ouimette-romeo-parkes-on-field-kick-new-york-red-bulls-pittsburgh-riverhounds-usl">here</a>, or by typing "Romeo Parkes kick" into Google.</p>
<p>At RBNY's Monday training session, the big question was always going to be "How's Karl?"</p>
<p>He quickly spotted at the facility...</p>
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<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just saw Karl Ouimette walking around RBTF. Doesn't look to be any worse for the wear after the incident in Pittsburgh on Saturday. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RBNY?src=hash">#RBNY</a></p>
— Eric Giacometti (@Eric_Giacometti) <a href="https://twitter.com/Eric_Giacometti/status/729696895191355392">May 9, 2016</a>
</blockquote>
<p>...but reportedly was not made available to the media.</p>
<p>But Jesse Marsch did share words and thoughts on the matter. <a href="http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=44541">Big Appple Soccer's Kristian Dyer reports</a> the most substantive news the club has revealed to date: per Marsch, Ouimette has a "back contusion", otherwise known as a bruise [Editor's Note: Once A Metro is not a doctor]. The player will have a MRI and further information on his status and projected recovery time will doubtless follow in due course.</p>
<p>But Ouimette is, as best anyone seems able to tell, substantially OK - and that is a tremendous relief for anyone who saw what he suffered on Saturday night.</p>
<p>For more on Marsch's thoughts on the incident, check Dyer's <a href="http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=44541">original report for BAS</a> or Russ Mckenzie's piece for <a href="http://www.empireofsoccer.com/ouimette-to-undergo-mri-after-cowardly-attack-47951/">Empire Of Soccer</a>.</p>
https://www.onceametro.com/2016/5/9/11643756/report-karl-ouimette-is-bruised-but-unbowed-new-york-red-bulls-romeo-parkes-kickAustin Fido