LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles FC defender Sergi Palencia has been cleared of any discriminatory actions by CONCACAF's disciplinary committee following an argument he had with Colorado Rapids defender Chidozie Awaziem on the field last month.
Palencia and Awaziem were involved in the dispute Feb. 25 in the second leg of their clubs' Round 1 matchup in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Afterward, Colorado coach Chris Armas said Awaziem was shaken after he claimed to have been called a derogatory term. The match briefly came to a standstill at the start of extra time in the second half following the argument.
Awaziem, a Nigerian national team member who made his Major League Soccer debut last season with Cincinnati, also made the claim on social media after the match, saying he believed he “was subjected to abusive language on the field.” The Rapids issued a statement supporting Awaziem and decrying discriminatory language.
But CONCACAF's investigation found no evidence to support the claim against Palencia, a Spanish veteran in his third season with LAFC.
The disciplinary committee said it conducted "a thorough review of the match officials’ reports, available match footage and audios, and the respective positions of both clubs."
“While the evidence confirms that the interaction between Palencia and Colorado Rapids player Chidozie Awaziem involved inappropriate language, it is clear to the Committee that the word reported by the Colorado Rapids in its official position to CONCACAF was not used,” the disciplinary committee said in a statement announcing the findings of its investigation. “CONCACAF will continue to urge teams, players and fans to participate in our sport positively and with respect for the opposition. There is no room for discrimination in our game.”
LAFC beat Colorado 1-0 in the second-leg match and advanced to host the Columbus Crew on Tuesday night in the opening leg of their round-of-16 matchup.
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FILE - Los Angeles FC defender Sergi Palencia chases the ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match against the Real Salt Lake Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo blocked a shot by LeBron James and stole the ball from him on consecutive possessions in the final minute, and the Milwaukee Bucks blew a fourth-quarter lead before rallying for a 105-101 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
Kevin Porter Jr. scored 22 points, and he hit two free throws to break a tie after Antetokounmpo blocked a driving layup attempt by James with 39 seconds left.
Antetokounmpo then knocked the ball out of James' hands from behind with 2 seconds left, and Porter hit two more free throws to seal Milwaukee's fifth win in seven games — its first over a team with a winning record since Dec. 11. Antetokounmpo finished with 21 points in his lowest-scoring effort since returning from his right calf strain.
Luka Doncic had 24 points and nine assists on 8-of-25 shooting for the Lakers. He had his lowest-scoring performance since Christmas, and he fouled out on Porter's 3-point attempt with 16.2 seconds to play.
James had 26 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, but Antetokoumpo got the best of the top scorer in NBA history at crunch time. Los Angeles has lost six of 10.
Milwaukee surged to a double-digit lead in the first half even with Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction in his injury return. Doncic scored 12 points in the third quarter but also committed four fouls in the period, including his fifth of the game.
Los Angeles abruptly erased its deficit by going on a 17-4 run to open the fourth, with James putting the Lakers ahead when he stole the ball from Antetokounmpo for a layup with 6:02 left. Milwaukee missed nine of its first 12 shots in the period, but Porter's layup tied it with two minutes left.
Lakers starters Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura remain sidelined by injury, but Hachimura (calf) might return early next week from his six-game absence, coach JJ Redick said.
Bucks: At Denver on Sunday.
Lakers: At Sacramento on Monday.
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Los Angeles Lakers guard Marcus Smart, left, tries to shoot as Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, left, and Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
