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More discrimination allegations end D.C. United forward’s contract

Published:Sunday | August 13, 2023 | 12:11 AM
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MX All-Star Álvaro Fidalgo (8) blocks a shot by MLS All-Star Taxiarchis ‘Taxi’ Fountas during the second half of the MLS All-Star football match on August 10 last year in St Paul, Minnesota.
AP
MX All-Star Álvaro Fidalgo (8) blocks a shot by MLS All-Star Taxiarchis ‘Taxi’ Fountas during the second half of the MLS All-Star football match on August 10 last year in St Paul, Minnesota.
Jamaica’s Javain Brown (right) and Damion Lowe battle for the ball with Mexico’s Orbelin Pineda during the first half of a Concacaf Gold Cup semi-final football match on Wednesday, July 12 in Las Vegas.
AP
Jamaica’s Javain Brown (right) and Damion Lowe battle for the ball with Mexico’s Orbelin Pineda during the first half of a Concacaf Gold Cup semi-final football match on Wednesday, July 12 in Las Vegas.
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WASHINGTON (AP):

REGGAE BOY centre back Damion Lowe may have been vindicated after an allegation he made concerning racist remarks from D.C. United player Taxi Fountas went nowhere on account of a lack of evidence.

Fountas and D.C. United mutually agreed to terminate the forward’s contract immediately, the MLS club announced on Thursday, after the league determined there were what it called “credible allegations” he used prohibited and discriminatory language toward another player.

“There is no place for racism, homophobia, misogyny, or discrimination of any kind in our sport and world and D.C. United do not tolerate any acts of this nature,” the team said in a statement.

Fountas was put on administrative leave by MLS on July 21 and has not played since.

“Major League Soccer and its clubs are committed to eradicating racism from the game,” the league said Thursday in a statement about Fountas.

Last year, the league looked into an accusation that Fountas used racially abusive language toward Miami defender Aimé Mabika during a match. The league said it found the allegation credible but could not find corroborating evidence, and Fountas was not disciplined.

Fountas is a 27-year-old from Greece who was in his second season with D.C. United. He scored 18 goals in 38 games with the team.

In a separate episode last month, D.C. United fired its head athletic trainer, Reade Whitney, after the team said he made a discriminatory hand gesture in a photo that was posted on social media.

The team didn’t name Whitney in its statement announcing his dismissal but said its athletic trainer had been fired, effective immediately. Whitney held that position.