Union’s Bedoya not fined, but is voted Player of the Week

Alejandro Bedoya won’t face a fine or suspension for his statement against gun violence on national television Sunday night, MLS has announced.

A league spokesman confirmed to the New York Times, after a meeting at league headquarters in New York, that Bedoya won’t face any discipline for grabbing a field mic in the third minute of the Philadelphia Union’s game with D.C. United on national television Sunday night and yelling, “Hey Congress, do something now. End gun violence. Let’s go.”

MLS released a brief statement that made no specific mention of Bedoya. “The Major League Soccer family joins everyone in grieving for the loss of lives in Texas and Ohio, and we understand that our players and staff have strong and passionate

Bedoya wasn’t much concerned about the possibility of a fine Sunday night.

“I don’t care. Fine me if they want,” he said. “I’ve got to make a stand. Like I said, I’m a human being before I’m an athlete. That should be everybody here. We’re all human beings. We’re all affected by this stuff.”

Reaction to his statement has been generally positive. He received the full backing of coach Jim Curtin postgame, was supported by numerous teammates posting their endorsements of his message and through the Union’s social media account, which has amplified the viral moment. A GoFundMe page had been set up Sunday to contribute to a possible fine; it raised $900 in the first 12 hours.

Fans also took to social media with the hashtag #voteBedoya to make him the North American Soccer Reporters Player of the Week, despite Bedoya not being one of the four named candidates that MLS listed in its weekly promotion of the contest. Bedoya had the goal plus a long pass that set up the Union’s second goal.

The first-place Union return to action next Sunday at home against Houston.

TONY QUINN —ICON SPORTSWIRE VIA AP IMAGES views on this issue,” the statement read. Bedoya scored in the third minute of a 5-1 win over D.C. United and scoped out a microphone on the field to make his statement. Bedoya, the Union’s captain, is highly involved in various social issues and tweeted his frustration Sunday morning about mass shootings this weekend in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, that left more than 30 people dead. Union midfielder Alejandro Bedoya celebrates his third-minute goal against D.C. United Sunday night at Audi Field. Bedoya leapt on a field microphone to voice his urgent plea for Congress to act on curbing the proliferation of weapons.