Saturday, 28 May 2022. 15:10
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Tommy Pham has been suspended three games for slapping San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson before Friday’s game over a year-old fantasy football dispute.
MLB says it suspended Pham for “inappropriate behavior” and he was also fined. The suspension will end Sunday, when the series between the Reds and the Giants concludes in Cincinnati.
On Friday, Pham confronted and punched Pederson as the Giants warmed up in the field. The duo had to be separated. The skirmish occurred under the gaze of journalists, but before spectators arrived at the stadium.
Pham said on Saturday that the argument was sparked by a text Pederson sent to a fantasy football group in which Pederson allegedly disrespected his teammates at the San Diego Padres, with whom he played last season.
“I slapped Joc,” Pham told reporters on Saturday. He said bullshit that doesn’t pass. I had to react. »
“It was about my former teammates. I didn’t like what was going on in the Fantasy group. There was too much money involved, there is a code of honor. You can’t gamble with my money and then say disrespectful things. There is a code. »
On Friday, Pederson said he was charged with cheating for putting a player’s name on the disabled list and replacing him with a free agent in their league. Pederson claims the DL player was sidelined for a week, making the deal legal. He also recalled that Pham had already carried out the same maneuver with his fantasy team.
He had no idea that Pham intended to confront him during their series.
