Professional soccer player suspended over logo sponsor flap

ATLANTA - After scoring, Atlanta Beat player Charmaine Hooper lifted up her jersey -- a common post-goal celebration. <br> <br> She was wearing a T-shirt underneath -- so she didn&#39;t flash any skin or a sports bra as Brandi Chastain did in clinching the 1999 World Cup. But the Women&#39;s United Soccer Association suspended Hooper, the Beat&#39;s leading scorer, and fined her $250 because the T-shirt featured the logo of a company that competes with one of the league&#39;s sponsors. <br> <br> Hooper&#39;s T-shirt was from MET-Rx, a Florida-based maker of energy bars and nutritional products. Gatorade, which also makes energy bars, is a league sponsor. <br> <br> WUSA said Hooper was suspended after the June 9 game against the New York Power because the league had previously warned her twice for wearing a MET-Rx headband during games. Hooper, Atlanta&#39;s leading scorer, served the suspension Saturday in the team&#39;s 3-1 loss to Carolina. <br> <br> League commissioner Tony DiCicco said Friday, ``For us to suspend a player of her caliber for a game, we have to think very seriously about that.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> He said the league ``needed to protect our sponsors, because if we don&#39;t we&#39;re just not going to have enough revenue stream.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> MET-Rx began a sponsorship deal with Hooper this season to supply her with energy products, clothing and other support. The company said it did not ask Hooper to wear any of its logos. <br> <br> As in other leagues, WUSA players are allowed endorsement deals, although their contracts prohibit them from displaying competitor logos during appearances with their teams. The policy does not apply to shoes or gloves worn by goaltenders. <br> <br> Ted Cox, a sports marketing consultant in Cleveland, said the suspension was a rare event in pro sports, where endorsement infractions most often are addressed by some internal fines that you never hear about.