And that’s the thing. There isn’t much public or soccer fan support for MLS becoming the thought police and deciding what people will understand and tolerate. So they just ban it all. It’s no different than the UEFA stance which wouldn’t let Germany and England wear poppies on their kit on a game on November 11 against each other because what happens when Bosnia plays Serbia? Israel and Iran?Yep, I really don't have any idea what that sign means
Same with NYCFC. Your intentions and instincts are good, but your facts are a little fuzzy. The right wingers were never an official NYCFC supporters group. However, the predominately white and franchise chummy supporters group allowed one or two known white supremacists into their section on a regular basis. Folks disagree whether the capos knew that. Anybody that buys a ticket can sit there, so what’s the political test for someone who just buys a ticket and does nothing but stand and cheer as instructed? Should MLS be policing people’s political values if they are not disruptive? The answer was no. Should one fan be ejected because 10 fans feel “uncomfortable” sitting next to him because of what he might be thinking? Does the club automatically endorse those thoughts by selling him a ticket?
Later one person made an objectionable gesture and was ejected. Several others were involved in a brawl with Red Bull fans and were banned. That led to their knucklehead friends attending games and arguably displaying tattoos and making hand gestures designed to taunt anyone who objected to them being there. They co-opted NYCFC logos for use with their hate group and circulated that on social media. If the club knew about it, they did nothing. MLS’s failure to ban those people on political grounds has led to these demonstrations. The other official supporters group, which bills itself as Latin based fanned the flames to try and boost their membership.
In contrast, Timbers Army has made it clear that antifa members are welcome, even when masked, to display their signs, in defiance of the policy and that the supporters group as a whole supports their violent message.
It’s a mess.
And it’s MLS’s fault. Don’t spend millions promoting your sport as the sport of choice for young urban lefties then not expect them to demand you toe their political line when they invest their time money and energy into your business venture.
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