MLS bans, fines Orlando's Antonio Nocerino for kick at Clint Dempsey

Major League Soccer has fined and suspended Orlando City SC midfielder Antonio Nocerino for kicking the ball at Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey's head during Sunday's match.

The MLS also fined and banned two more players --Houston Dynamo defender David Horst andLA Galaxy midfielder Jeff Larentowicz -- for similarly endangering the safety of opponents in games over the weekend.

Nocerino, who moved to Orlando from AC Milan in February, will be suspended for the club's match against Chicago this weekend for his actions toward Dempsey after the whistle had blown in the first half of Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Sounders.

Horst will miss the Dynamo's upcoming match against Toronto FC after elbowingMontreal Impact midfielder Patrice Bernier during a corner kick in Houston's 1-0 triumph on Sunday. He was not called for a foul on the play.

Larentowicz will be barred from participating in the Galaxy's upcoming fixture against the Colorado Rapids for his dangerous sliding challenge -- which was not given a card -- on New York Red Bulls defender Damien Perrinelle in the two teams' 2-2 draw on Sunday.

Perrinelle was injured on the play and will miss the next 4-6 weeks with a torn ACL.