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New York City FC star David Villa escapes punishment for kicking out at player

Nov 1, 2016 | 7:15 PM

TORONTO — New York City FC captain David Villa has escaped punishment for kicking Toronto FC midfielder Armando Cooper in Game 1 of the MLS Eastern Conference semifinal Sunday.

Villa was not punished on the field for the action, which came in the 20th minute of Toronto’s 2-0 win at BMO Field. The incident then went to the MLS Disciplinary Committee, which can sanction retroactively.

The league said Tuesday that while the committee agreed unanimously that Villa should have been red-carded on the play, its five members were not unanimous on the other tenet needed for a suspension — that “the play in question is of an egregious or reckless in nature, such that the Committee must act to protect player safety or the integrity of the game.”

That means the Spanish star, who was named a finalist for league MVP earlier Tuesday, will be able to play in Sunday’s rematch at Yankee Stadium.

It was a good day for Villa all round. He joined other team officials in ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange.

Cooper was on the wrong end of a Disciplinary Committee ruling in September when he was suspended one game and fined him an undisclosed amount for violent conduct for a sly kick at Felipe as the Red Bulls’ Brazilian midfielder lay on the ground after being fouled in the 90th minute of a 3-3- tie.

Villa’s going scot-free will not make TFC happy.

After expressing his respect for Villa’s talent, Toronto coach Greg Vanney made it clear after the match that the NYCFC star deserved a ban.

“I think there are instances in a game that regardless of who you are, when you make choices like that where a player’s defenceless and you take a whack at him from behind, on any other day in any other league, I think that player sees a suspension,” said Vanney.

“It will be up to our review panel and committee to make a decision, it’s not my call. But for me it was pretty blatant. I saw it from the second it happened, I’ve seen a replay of it again. It’s just not something that is acceptable really in the league.

“But whatever happens, happens. If he’s on the field, we play. If he’s not on the field, we play.”

NYCFC coach Patrick Vieira said diplomatically that he needed to see a replay before commenting. But he did suggest referee Silviu Petrescu had been “quite a little bit harsh” on his team and had been perhaps influenced by Toronto’s vocal crowd.

“I think the occasion had an impact on some the referee’s decisions,” said Vieira.

NYCFC had five players cautioned to Toronto’s one.

A frustrated Villa, who had just 30 touches on the night, was subbed in the 78th minute

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Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press