July 25 – Don Garber finds himself in an impossible position. The Major League Soccer (MLS) commissioner’s defence of the league’s ban on political signage rings hollow when federal agents are quite literally snatching people off the streets in broad daylight.
Speaking before Wednesday’s MLS All-Star game, Garber played a straight bat and stayed on message about keeping stadiums “safe” while prohibiting displays that might “incite anyone.” But what’s more inciting than watching your neighbours disappear into immigration detention without so much as a criminal charge?
“We want to ensure that we’re having displays that are not going to incite anyone,” Garber said. “The best way to do that is to have the policy we have, which prohibits having political signage or anything to do with legislative acts on display in our stadiums.”
ICE’s latest rampage across Los Angeles netted over 2,700 arrests. More damning still: mid-June data reveals over 11,700 people sitting in immigration detention who’ve never been charged with or convicted of any crime.
In this climate of terror, it’s LAFC and Angel City FC who’ve shown leadership. LAFC supporters’ bold tifo reading ‘Los Angeles unidos jamás será vencido’ (‘Los Angeles, united, will never be defeated’) wasn’t political theatre, it was a message to their community.
LAFC’s subsequent statement hit the mark: “Today, when so many in our city are feeling fear and uncertainty, LAFC stands shoulder to shoulder with all members of our community.”
The human cost is staggering. Nashville SC’s Latino supporters have paused gameday activities, telling reporters they feel “targeted” and “hunted”. When your own fans can’t feel safe at matches, your “safety” policy has failed spectacularly.
Garber’s admission that “I don’t think the league has the ability to serve as an entity to protect anyone”, while insisting teams can speak out if they choose, reveals the league’s lack of backbone. You can’t claim neutrality when jackbooted thugs are terrorizing your fanbase.
The commissioner got one thing right: “If teams want to make a statement, they can.” LAFC, Austin FC and Angel City chose courage over comfort. The rest of MLS whose fan base is almost 30% Hispanic has been somewhat silent. In times like these, clubs need to stand up and represent what’s right, and their fan base – at least that is what they do in the rest of the world where clubs are embedded in their communities and community life.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1753510709labto1753510709ofdlr1753510709owedi1753510709sni@o1753510709fni1753510709