Clint Dempsey Receives Two-Year Ban From U.S. Open Cup

Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey was banned from the United States Open Cup for no less than two years on Thursday, his second discipline in a week for tearing up a ref's note pad amid a match in the competition on June 16.

Dempsey, the skipper of the United States national group, did not reach the official amid the episode a week ago in the Open Cup, a knockout rivalry that runs simultaneous with the Major League Soccer season. However, he thumped the ref's scratch pad from his hand amid a contention and afterward lifted it up and destroyed it as he left, drawing a launch.

In the wake of looking into the occurrence, the U.S. Open Cup's disciplinary board of trustees on Thursday suspended Dempsey for six Open Cup matches or the following two years of the competition, "whichever is more noteworthy," and fined him an undisclosed sum. That is notwithstanding the three-match forbid Dempsey got from Major League Soccer last Friday.

Dempsey's M.L.S. suspension will terminate in time for him to seek the United States in one month from now's Concacaf Gold Cup, yet the new, harsher boycott could build the weight on the national group mentor, Jurgen Klinsmann, to force his own control.

Klinsmann on Tuesday named Dempsey to his program for the Gold Cup, the territorial title competition that starts July 7, yet said of Dempsey's activities, "It's something that no one needs to see." Klinsmann said he would examine the episode with Dempsey when he touched base in camp.

Celtic host Ross County in league opener

Celtic will start their Scottish Premiership title protection with a home diversion against Ross County.

Recently advanced Hearts begin their arrival to the top flight at home to St Johnstone in the first round of diversions on 1 August.

Jackie McNamara's Dundee United host Aberdeen in an opening-day New Firm derby at Tannadice.

The Championship commences a week later as Rangers face St Mirren, while Hibernian host Dumbarton.

In the other opening-day apparatuses in the top flight, Hamilton tackle Partick Thistle, Kilmarnock host Dundee and Inverness CT face Motherwell.

The apparatuses were uncovered as Scottish Professional Football League declared the 2015-16 installations for its four divisions.

SPF CEO Neil Doncaster said: "Today is a key minute in the Scottish football timetable when supporters of every one of the 42 clubs look ahead to another season with awesome reckoning, fervor and trust."

United will have the first Dundee derby of the season on 12 August and Celtic face Hearts on 26 September.

Mark Warburton assumes responsibility of Rangers for the new season, while Ian Murray begins his first crusade as St Mirren manager.

Somewhere else in the Championship on 8 August, Morton face Falkirk, Queen of the South tackle Alloa and Raith Rovers host Livingston.

Officers tackle Hibernian at Ibrox on 22 August.

Snap here for the Championship installations in full

Albion Rovers start life in Scottish League One with a home amusement against Ayr United subsequent to winning last season's fourth-level title.

Snap here for the League One installations in full

Cowdenbeath, who were downgraded from the Championship toward the end of 2014-15, stimulate Stranraer, while Stirling Albion, who supplanted Albion Rovers in League Two, host Clyde.