WTF is up in Columbus
July 21, 2008 by f4denz.
So earlier this year there was the attempt by the Crew Supporters to recreate the chaos of Toronto with streamers (and in Columbus other items) thrown at players attempting to take corner kicks. It was followed by an incident when the New England Revolution came to Columbus and despite the MLS attempt to cover up the incident, there was at least one recorded racist taunt from the stands as well as more stuff being thrown at players. In response the heads at MLS passed rules to forbid the use of streamers to interfere with play of the match, but I haven’t seen or heard much about enforcement.
Why does any of this matter you might ask, well we have seen a change in attitude with the staff of RSL and the security staff at RES and I believe it all is a direct result not only of the “exaggerated” actions of a few fans, but also in response to overall issues that have started to appear at MLS events. Consider the cover up of the fights at Chivas vs. Galaxy matches at the Home Depot Center, the cover up of the recent Blanco tirade after a US Open Cup match, and problems that have popped up from time to time at TFC matches. Well add it all up and two things stick out like a score thumb:
http://mlsunderground.blogspot.com/2008/04/what-don-garber-wants-from-supporters.html is a article and audio clip about what MLS wanted from fans and supporters in April of this year.
http://csrnusa.com/ussoccerspot/?p=751 just a month later a very pointed article titled “Has Holliginism kicked off in MLS”
Now consider news coming out late Sunday evening from Columbus:
More Trouble in Columbus blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider
Terrific…..
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A halftime brawl between more than 100 fans marred an exhibition match Sunday between West Ham United of the English Premier League club and the MLS’ Columbus Crew.
More than 100 fans clash as West Ham United beats Columbus Crew 3-1 canadianpress.google.com
A halftime brawl between more than 100 fans marred an exhibition match Sunday between West Ham United of the English Premier League club and the MLS’ Columbus Crew.
The fights, which overshadowed West Ham United’s 3-1 win, began when a handful of West Ham supporters, some wearing the team’s claret and blue colours, entered the northeast corner of the stadium where the Crew’s most boisterous supporters typically gather.
Hammers pound Crew in victory web.mlsnet.com
West Ham United might be in the early stages of their preseason training, but they were in good enough form to give a Columbus Crew team comprised mostly of reserves a 3-1 defeat Sunday afternoon at Crew Stadium.
(Notice that the official MLS version mentions nothing of the problems, this blind eye approach is the problem. I am not calling for MLS to try to police every fan at every event, but when you have continued issues with a small group of people who have no intention other than to cause problems, then it must be dealt with. MLS is desperate to capture some level of passion and excitement for soccer in America, but this is not the right answer. Face up to a very small group of people causing problems and interfering with an event attended by just under 10,000 people. Is the behavior of a small group of fans in Columbus the reason why the teams attendance numbers are down so low this year, and why a friendly against a EPL side could not draw a crowd?
I feel personally offended by the actions of the small group of trouble causers in Columbus, I had season tickets for the Crew in 96 &97 when they played at the Horseshoe on the Ohio State campus and this type of behavior would never had been tolerated, it now has not only given Columbus a bad reputation, but now the entire league will grouped with the actions of a very small group of people. Why, because nobody has the balls in Columbus or at MLS HQ to step up and take action. People should be banned, if need be arrested and charges should be filed, the actions in the past couple months is far beyond a group of fans having fun and getting a little crazy after having too much to drink, when the actions take racist twists, violence was sure to be close to follow, now the entire league is going to look like a bunch of animals because nobody stood up to a few people with bad intentions.)
I have found only one source that has given real coverage to the issues in Columbus and that is mls-rumors.net here is their take on the latest incident:
Report: Crew Trouble Brews Again in Columbus mls-rumors.net
Three words Columbus:
Sort. It. Out.
We got several reports about incidents at the Crew friendly with West Ham but decided to sit on them until tomorrow morning. We are so often accused of being anti-Columbus and biased against Crew fans, so why rush to spread more bad news?
Well the following story is going out over the AP Wire so if you Columbus fans think we’re biased for running this then we suggest you take up your protest with the Associated Press and save your breath here. We all know you see yourselves as the “Milwall” of MLS but getting into a ruck with West Ham supporters is going too far.
OFF MY SOAPBOX