Vancouver coach Vanni Sartini hit with five-match MLS ban for playoff tirade

• Whitecaps manager suspended for comments over referee
• Sartini called Tim Ford's performance disgraceful' after loss

Vancouver coach Vanni Sartini was suspended by Major League Soccer for the first six games of next season and fined $20,000 for his actions and comments about referee Tim Ford following a 1-0 loss to Los Angeles FC on 5 November that eliminated the Whitecaps from the playoffs.

Sartini called Ford's performance disgraceful" and made a joke about being a suspect if Ford were to be found dead. Santini had been given a red card in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time, triggering an automatic one-game suspension.