MLS fines Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena $20,000 for criticizing league

Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena was fined $20,000 by Major League Soccer for comments critical of the league, MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Thursday.

“It pains me to have to fine [Arena] for making comments that he obviously feels strongly about, but which he is required by league rules to keep to himself,” Garber told reporters in New York after a news conference to unveil the league’s new logo.

The comments stemmed from the Galaxy’s unsuccessful effort this summer to acquire American midfielder Sacha Kljestan from the Belgian team Anderlecht.

In an Aug. 25 interview with the Washington Post, Arena was quoted as saying of the deal that “forces within the league worked real hard to make sure that didn’t happen.”

Asked why, Arena replied, “Because they are children and there have to be adults in the process, and we didn’t have enough of them. I think we are back into the old days in the league when the rules are somewhat arbitrary. Hopefully we will get that straightened out in the off-season.”

Garber said Thursday that “all of our employees, whether they are league executives or they are club executives ... are bound by an agreement that we will not criticize the system that our ownership is fully committed to.”

Arena and the Galaxy declined to comment on the fine.