MLS issues ban to player for using ‘n-word’

The MLS has banned Inter Miami defender Yannick Bright for violating the Non-Discrimination Policy. During Saturday’s fixture against the Colorado Rapids, Bright received a red card for using discriminatory language, forcing him out of the club’s next match against Real Salt Lake.

The additional ban means that Bright will also miss Miami’s game against the New England Revolution.

“In making decisions under this Policy, MLS considers many factors, including the player’s immediate acceptance of responsibility for harm caused by the misconduct, eagerness to begin a process to repair it, and cooperation with the League’s review,” the MLS said in a press release, per ESPN.

Independent reporter Franco Panizo determined the language that led to the ban, reporting that the ban was earned for calling an opponent a “b*tch *ss n*gga.”

MLS announces Yannick Bright has been given an additional one-game ban for violating the non-discrimination policy in the recent 3-2 win vs the Colorado Rapids.

Bright used a racial slur towards an opponent, calling the opponent a “b*tch *ss n*gga.”#InterMiamiCF #Messi pic.twitter.com/LNLEWPxUyv

— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) April 23, 2026

Embrace Debate

Fans on social media had differing opinions on whether Bright’s words warranted a suspension.

“He’s black. It’s not racist. If anything it’s racist to tell a black person that he can’t say that,” one person wrote on X.

“Dude is BLACK and he was saying that to another BLACK PLAYER, why the MLS is policing how Black Men talking to each other in a heated competitive manner,” someone else added.

“So funny how different cultures are between sport,” one fan added.

It’s certainly an interesting topic, and hard to believe that those words would’ve resulted in a similar penalty in the NBA or NFL, where black atheltes are much more prominent.