Alexis Sánchez Fined by MLS for Diving Amid Rough Patch at Montreal

A fall, an unnecessary roll on the grass and a dive too obvious for the cameras. That's what cost Alexis Sánchez a fine from MLS, right in the middle of the worst start of his career in a new jersey.

The league confirmed in an official statement that the Chilean forward was fined for violating the rules against simulation, or exaggerating a foul inside the field of play. The league did not disclose the amount of the fine, which is standard practice for this type of disciplinary sanction, as MLS typically keeps such figures private.

The play that led to the sanction happened in the 55th minute of the match against Charlotte FC, played on September 9, a game CF Montreal went on to lose 2-1. In that moment, Sánchez went down on the turf claiming a foul that, according to the league's later review, he exaggerated noticeably.

A tough stretch on the field

The episode comes at a particularly difficult time for the historic Chilean national team scorer. Since arriving at CF Montreal, Alexis has yet to score his first goal for the Canadian club, a stark contrast to the label of offensive leader he has carried for more than a decade.

The team isn't doing much better: over the weekend it suffered its fourth straight loss in MLS, falling 1-0 to the Colorado Rapids. The losing streak is starting to worry both the front office and the fan base, who expected a more immediate impact from the forward's arrival.

For Sánchez, a two-time Copa América champion with the Chilean national team and one of the most decisive players in La Roja's recent history, the adjustment to MLS has been an uphill battle. The goals aren't coming, the results aren't following, and now there's this extra off-field wake-up call from the league itself.

The fine, even with its amount unknown, shows that MLS keeps a tight watch on this kind of on-field behavior, something that in recent years has become common practice to discourage simulation aimed at hurting opponents or swaying referees' calls.

The Chilean will now have to focus on turning things around, both individually and collectively, as CF Montreal looks to snap its losing streak in the coming weeks of the MLS schedule.