Real Salt Lake fire Mike Petke
Real Salt Lake terminated the contract of head coach Mike Petke on Sunday, the club announced.
Assistant coach Freddy Juarez has been named the team's interim head coach for the rest of the 2019 season.
"We hold all of our coaches, players, executives and staff to the highest standards of professionalism," the club said in a statement on Sunday. "As an organization, it is vital that everyone, particularly our leadership, reflects and embodies our core values and the values of our community, treating all people with respect, civility and professionalism.
"Moreover, throughout our 15-year history, we have championed diversity, acceptance and inclusion throughout our organization, our stadiums and our community. This is a responsibility that we take very seriously."
On July 30, MLS suspended Petke for three Leagues Cup matches and two MLS games. He was also fined $25,000 and ordered to attend anger management, sensitivity, and diversity training.
The league said in a statement at the time that Petke used "unacceptable and offensive language as well as repeated confrontational misconduct toward match officials" following a Leagues Cup match on July 24 against Tigres UANL at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Petke had served as head coach of Real Salt Lake since March 2017.