Report: Columbus Crew shopping Kei Kamara after post-game tirade
The Columbus Crew are reportedly looking to trade star striker Kei Kamara after his tantrum towards attacking midfielder Federico Higuain left the club with a personnel issue in the locker room and a bit of a PR nightmare to deal with.
Hearing Columbus is trying to trade Kei Kamara pre-deadline, but it's hard to move DPs since so many teams have the maximum 3 DPs already.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) May 10, 2016
Kamara and Higuain fought on the field over who would take a penalty kick during an eventual 4-4 draw with the Montreal Impact at MAPFRE Stadium Saturday. Higuain eventually ended up taking and scoring the spot-kick, leaving Kamara with only a brace and not the hat-trick he had been chasing.
After the match, Kamara told reporters he did not have a relationship with Higuain, stating he does not receive Higuain's help on the field anyway.
"I haven’t really had to depend on Pipa at all," Kamara said, according to MLSsoccer.com. "How long have I been here? How many goals have I scored? How many have come from his assists? One, maybe two. I don’t depend on him. I depend on Ethan [Finlay], I depend on my outside backs to pass me balls."
Related - 5 things we learned in MLS Week 10: Crew meltdown a sign of deeper issues
Head coach Gregg Berhalter issued a suspension in training a few days after the incident:
#CrewSC Kei Kamara has been given one-game suspension by team. Will not play vs Colorado on Saturday.
— Shawn Mitchell (@smitchcd) May 10, 2016
Berhalter said suspension was because of what Kamara said to media after game. #CrewSC
— Shawn Mitchell (@smitchcd) May 10, 2016
Berhalter: "Kei speaking out against a teammate is unacceptable. We have zero tolerance for that." #CrewSC
— Shawn Mitchell (@smitchcd) May 10, 2016
The Crew have until Wednesday before the league's primary transfer window closes. Kamara signed a new Designated Player contract prior to the start of the 2016 MLS campaign.