CARSON, Calif. - LA Galaxy midfielder Nigel de Jong was suspended Friday for three games and fined for a rough tackle that left Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe with a sprained left ankle.

Referee Allen Chapman gave a yellow card to de Jong during Sunday's game. But the MLS disciplinary committee decided the play was "egregious and reckless," according to a statement, meriting a red card and a lengthy suspension.

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena vehemently disagreed with the league and the public outcry following the tackle. Arena blamed the response on de Jong's reputation for rugged play during his lengthy European career, a perception exacerbated by social media and bad journalism.

"If that was any other player in that tackle, it would not have received the hysteria that it has," Arena told the Galaxy's official website. "I think it was a mistimed tackle by Nigel. A bad tackle on that play is going to the ground and going over the ball with excessive force. That was not the case on that play."

Nagbe, who made his U.S. national team debut in November, was taken from the field on a stretcher. He missed the Timbers' 3-1 loss to FC Dallas on Wednesday, but returned to training Friday.

De Jong began the first suspension of his first season with the Galaxy on Friday night when the club visited Houston. He can't return to play until May 8, when the Galaxy host New England.

"What I know of Nigel in our short time together is he's a great player and person, and he wasn't trying to hurt the player, believe me," Arena said. "It was mistimed. As a tackle, it's clearly a yellow card, and arguably a red card. There's no excuse for it. Fortunately, it wasn't a tackle that injured the player."

The Dutch international joined MLS in the winter from Milan, extending a career that has included stops at Ajax, Hamburg and Manchester City.

De Jong has a reputation for gritty performances that occasionally cross the line into dirty play, particularly during a busy 2010 in which he broke the legs of American midfielder Stuart Holden and Newcastle winger Hatem Ben Arfa. He also infamously kicked Spain's Xabi Alonso in the chest during the 2010 World Cup final, but didn't receive a red card.