FIFA warns Abby Wambach for referee comments, does not suspend USWNT star

Abby Wambach will not be suspended for her comments after the United States' 2-0 round of 16 win over Colombia. FIFA ruled that Wambach did violate their rules and was subject to a suspension, but decided to only issue a warning instead, having taken her apology into consideration.

The referee showed yellow cards to Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday in the Americans' round of 16 match, both of whom were on yellow cards already and earned suspensions for the U.S.' quarterfinal contest. Afterward, Wambach accused the ref of trying to get the American players suspended.

"I don’t know if they were yellows. It seemed like she (the referee) was purposefully giving those yellows to, maybe players she knew were sitting on yellows," said Wambach. "I don’t know if that’s a psychological thing. Who knows?"

FIFA could have suspended Wambach for criticizing the officials, in large part because she called into question the referee's impartiality. But she followed with an apology the next day, saying that she regretted the comments and did not know what the referee was thinking.

If Wambach makes any other questionable comments, she will probably face a suspension now. She has been warned and should not flirt with FIFA on these matters again, or at least not until after the World Cup. But so long as she doesn't question the referee or anything similar again in this tournament then she's in the clear.