Multiple league sources have detailed to The Athletic the scope of events that prompted MLS and Real Salt Lake to strictly punish head coach Mike Petke for his outburst following RSL’s loss to Mexican club Tigres UANL in Leagues Cup play on July 24th.



Petke confronted head referee John Pitti and both of his assistants on the field in the moments after the final whistle of his side’s defeat at Rio Tinto Stadium. Petke was shown a red card shortly after the confrontation began, but he continued to speak to all three officials for nearly 20 seconds after he was ejected. The sources confirmed that Petke repeatedly shouted “motherfucking puto” at Pitti, who is Panamanian, with “puto” being a Spanish-language homophobic slur.



The on-field outburst was caught by television cameras.



What happened next wasn’t.



According to sources, Petke continued to use the slur to berate the referees as they walked through the...