*Chivas USA midfielder Michael Lahoud was fined $500 and suspended for two games today for a reckless tackle Saturday on the Chicago Fire’s Justin Mapp.

A foul was called by the referee on the 13th minute play, but no card was issued. The MLS Disciplinary Committee decided the tackle was “egregious and reckless and endangered the safety of his opponent.”

Lahoud will miss Chivas USA’s games against the New England Revolution Wednesday and Houston Dynamo Saturday.

*Galaxy forward Edson Buddle was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week Monday by the North American Soccer Reporters after contributing two goals and an assist in the Galaxy’s 3-1 victory Saturday over the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.

*Pepperdine today released its 2010 schedule.

*Following three regional tryouts in Houston, Chicago and Los Angeles, where more than 1,500 youth players aged 14-18 showcased their skills in front of MLS youth team scouts, the field Sueo MLS 2010 has been whittled down to 15 finalists. The reality show will be filmed this week at Home Depot Center. The five players the Galaxy have named to participate: midfielders Oscar Velazquez, 14, Las Vegas and Dennis Alvarado, 16, Fairfield, Calif; forwards Javier Castro, 18, Pomona, and Victor Jimenez, 16, Anaheim; and defender Jonathan Navas, 18, Los Angeles.

Updated:

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Soccer and its players ratified a five-year labor agreement that allowed the season to start on time.

Eighty-four percent of players voted to approve, the MLS Players Union said Tuesday. Owners ratified the deal within the past week, league spokesman Dan Courtemanche said. The collective bargaining agreement was reached March 20.

Recapping the key provisions:

*All players 24 and over with three years of MLS service receive guaranteed
contracts.

*The minimum salary for senior players increased from $34,000 to $40,000 this year and goes up to $42,000 next season, $44,000 in 2012, $46,500 in 2013 and $48,500 in 2014.

*Players whose contracts have expired can go into a re-entry draft.

*Each team’s salary budget increased from $2.31 million last year to $2.55 million this season. It will go up to $2.68 million in 2011, $2.81 million in 2012, $2.95 million in 2013 and $3.1 million in 2014.