NEW YORK -- Dynamo midfielder Colin Clark has been suspended for three games by Major League Soccer and fined for directing a gay slur toward a ball boy during Houston's 2-0 loss at Seattle last week.
MLS commissioner Don Garber also ordered Clark to attend diversity and sensitivity training.
"Major League Soccer will not tolerate this type of behavior from its players or staff at any time, under any circumstances," Garber said.
The 27-year-old apologized on Twitter and said he will say he's sorry to the ball boy in person.
"I believe that he will learn from this incident," Garber said.
Clark is in his seventh MLS season, and second full season with the Dynamo.
"First of all, I want to apologize for what I did during the Seattle match. I had a chance to speak to the ball boy after the game," Clark said. "I'm sorry to everyone who I offended with that term. I intend to never use that word again in any context. There's absolutely no excuse for using that word.
"What I said doesn't represent me. It was out of character and out of line. I made a huge mistake by using those words, and I truly regret that."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.