VIDEO: West Ham/Crew Brawl, Columbus Issues a Statement

Video of the brawl everyone has been talking about:



And an official statement from the Crew:


The Columbus Crew issued the following statement regarding an altercation that took place at Crew Stadium during halftime of Sunday's exhibition between West Ham United and the Crew which has been exaggerated in at least one news report:

“While a skirmish among a very small group of West Ham and Crew supporters did occur on Sunday, media reports referring to it as a “brawl” or "fights" are gross mischaracterizations. The incident was initiated by the actions of three West Ham supporters who entered the Crew supporters section at halftime. Crew Stadium security intervened and immediately began to escort those West Ham supporters to the concourse, at which time several Crew supporters became involved. On the concourse, Columbus Police quickly assumed control of the situation and made one arrest. Three other attendees were ejected by stadium security at that time. Supporters of both clubs were gathered on the concourse during the altercation, but nearly all of them were bystanders or onlookers and not active participants. Order was restored within minutes, prior to the beginning of the second half of play. Although it was a minor incident, the reputation of our organization and our fans is extremely important to us and as soccer's popularity continues to grow, we will continue to make every effort to ensure that our fans have a safe and enjoyable experience when they visit Crew Stadium.”

COMMENTARY: Dougie Brimson Weighs In On Columbus/West Ham Brawl

Reached at his home in England noted author and former hooligan Dougie Brimson had this to say to MLSR regarding the incidents in Columbus at the friendly vs West Ham:

"Whilst incredibly unfortunate, to be honest, news of this incident hardly comes as a shock. English fans on pre-season tours abroad have a history of becoming involved in trouble and when you have a club with a sizable travelling support, it is inevitable that there will be those amongst their number looking to kick off some kind of confrontation. Be it inside or outside the stadium.

That sadly, is the nature of the hooligan beast as the MLS is continuing to discover.

However, whilst it is easy to get distracted by trying to apportion blame, of greater concern to me is the simple truth that a group of visiting fans were able to move around the stadium seemingly quite freely. Given the fact the English fans in particular have a reputation for never backing down once provoked, this does seem to indicate that either security at the stadium were either unaware of this kind of behaviour and the reasons for it, or were simply ill prepared to deal with it.

Either way, although it's sad that they have had to learn this lesson the hard way, one can only hope that they will be better prepared should there ever be a repeat."



At this hour the story has gone round the world as we've seen it on the top of the Sky Sports News broadcast.

REPORT: Crew Trouble Brews Again in Columbus

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.

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.

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 colors, entered the northeast corner of the stadium where the Crew's most boisterous supporters typically gather.

Crew supporters began directing chants toward the rival fans, and fights quickly broke out between more than 100 Crew fans and at least 30 West Ham fans. Columbus police officers and Crew Stadium security staff eventually separated the groups.

Highway Patrol officers arrested one fan outside the stadium for disorderly conduct, Patrol spokeswoman Anne Ralston said. A dispatcher didn't know whether Columbus police had made any arrests inside the stadium.

And this was an excerpt of the story in USA Today:

Crew-West Ham United friendly marred by brawl between fans

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.
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 colors, entered the northeast corner of the stadium where the Crew's most boisterous supporters typically gather.

Crew supporters began directing chants toward the rival fans, and fights quickly broke out between more than 100 Crew fans and at least 30 West Ham fans. Columbus police officers and Crew Stadium security staff eventually separated the groups.

Highway Patrol officers arrested one fan outside the stadium for disorderly conduct, Patrol spokeswoman Anne Ralston said. A dispatcher didn't know whether Columbus police had made any arrests inside the stadium.

This is the second incident Crew fans have been involved in this season. As New England celebrated its winning goal at Columbus on May 24, a fan shouted a racial slur at Revolution forward Kheli Dube, who scored in the 89th minute. Dube is black. The incident prompted a league investigation, with MLS commissioner Don Garber saying that the fan will be banned from league games for life if officials were able to identify him from a video that captured it.

We also received the following reports by email:

"Hey I don't know if you guys know about this, you probably do but all hell broke out in Columbus. I travelled down from Cleveland to see the Crew take on West Ham and all sorts of crap went on between some traveling West Ham supporters and the Crew's Nordecke. The police were called, bottles were thrown, it got ugly."

"Hello, I wasn't sure if you guys were being unfair to Crew supporters or not until today. They are at it again. This time they messed with some hard core West Ham people and fi

ghting broke out. Keep an eye out for more news on this soon, I'll try to forward anything I find your way."

"Crew Hooligans acting up again, check this link."

A Red Bull fan sent in the following reworking of a Bon Jovi classic, we find it appropriate to repost here:

You're fans are a scourge

And you're to blame

You give the league

A bad name.

Seriously, Crew, we're sick of reporting on your problems, so fix them. Perhaps rather than blaming Toronto for hosting the All Star Game which brought West Ham over you can learn how to police yourselves?

REPORT: New England Revolution vs Pachuca "La Bronca" Fighting Breaks Out at Another SuperLiga game

Cup of mysterious yellow liquid hurled at Revs players by Pachuca Fans after the game.

A few weeks ago, MLS Rumors reported on a protest by members of the Midnight Riders, the Revolution's Independent Supporters Group, over what they considered to be ill-treatment by members of the Revolution Front Office. Things have only gotten worse, as an incidentoccured during the Revolution's 1-0 win over Pachuca.

During a corner kick, Revolution Player Pat Phelan was briefly knocked unconscious after a scary head to head collision with another Revolution Player. While team trainers and EMT's attended the fallen Revolution player, the members of the Fort (the Supporters Section behind the goal at the lighthouse end), started a chant in support of their player.

Now, Mexican fans in the corner of the field, not knowing the severity of Phelan's injury, started to jeer, whistle, and mock the fallen player (for what they thought was time wasting). The Revolution Supporters took umbrage with the show of disrespect to Phelan, and while some middle fingers were shown to the Mexican fans, nothing else could happen (there's no connection between the Revs Supporters Section and the section of the stands where the Mexican fans were.) However, this was enough for TeamOps security to swarm the section, and start dragging people out of the supporters section, and not only ejected them, but detained them for several hours after the game.

The reason that was given to Midnight Rider leadership was that the people had given PHELAN the middle finger. This makes absolutely no sense at all. While TeamOps was busy trying to "subdue those dangerous hooligans" behind the goal, the Revolution converted a PK for the only goal of the game. The Mexican fans then started throwing several beers at the celebrating Revs fans and players.

A few weeks ago, MLS Rumors reported on a protest by members of the Midnight Riders, the Revolution's Independent Supporters Group, over what they considered to be ill-treatment by members of the Revolution Front Office. Things have only gotten worse, as an incidentoccured during the Revolution's 1-0 win over Pachuca.

During a corner kick, Revolution Player Pat Phelan was briefly knocked unconscious after a scary head to head collision with another Revolution Player. While team trainers and EMT's attended the fallen Revolution player, the members of the Fort (the Supporters Section behind the goal at the lighthouse end), started a chant in support of their player.

Now, Mexican fans in the corner of the field, not knowing the severity of Phelan's injury, started to jeer, whistle, and mock the fallen player (for what they thought was time wasting). The Revolution Supporters took umbrage with the show of disrespect to Phelan, and while some middle fingers were shown to the Mexican fans, nothing else could happen (there's no connection between the Revs Supporters Section and the section of the stands where the Mexican fans were.) However, this was enough for TeamOps security to swarm the section, and start dragging people out of the supporters section, and not only ejected them, but detained them for several hours after the game.

The reason that was given to Midnight Rider leadership was that the people had given Phelan the middle finger. This makes absolutely no sense at all. While TeamOps was busy trying to "subdue those dangerous hooligans" behind the goal, the Revolution converted a PK for the only goal of the game. The Mexican fans then started throwing several beers at the celebrating Revs fans and players.

Courtesy of MLSR correspondent D.Y.

AUDIO: Fighting Breaks Out At Superliga Match at RFK Stadium

SuperLiga stirs up a lot of passion in fans. The players play with passion and often this passion sparks flare ups of tempers in the stands. As shown in the above picture taken during last year's SuperLiga final between LA Galaxy and Pachuca, where the Galaxy's LA Riot Squad got into it with Pachuca supporters.

Well it happened again on the the opposite coast at the very first match of the 2008 edition of SuperLiga. In a match where there were unconfirmed reports of Chivas fans somehow disrupting the game by shutting down half of the stadium's lights, thus giving Guadalajara a much needed rest, tempers flared. The audio comes courtesy of the Soccer Show on Washington DC's WJFK Radio.

EDITORIAL: 3 Weeks Later, Some Columbus Fans Still Don't Get It

As we said in our "Last Word On Columbus" posting, we'd wait until after the league conducted their investigation and took whatever actions before writing anything further on Columbus. Well we have and have had time to see what if anything changed in the hearts and minds of Crew supporters.

The league had two responses to what occurred in Columbus during their game against New England. One response a lifetime ban from all MLS stadia for an as-yet still "unknown" racist, whose identity is still no doubt being protected by other Crew supporters.

And a stern warning from the league about using streamers to interfere with play (which went ignored).

So what has changed in Columbus?

In the words of music act The Brand New Heavies: "Apparently nothing, nothing apparently."

It seems the league's punishment, if you can call it that amounted to very little in the way of a change of attitude.. We have shown video of Crew supporters ignoring the Commissioner of Major League Soccer and we now have a report that at least one fan that knew very well what they were doing when they covered a San Jose player in streamers whilst he was trying to take a corner kick, thus interfering in play and going against the Commissioner's warning:

"Think maybe the Hudson Street Hooligans, Crew Union and La Turbina supporters groups didn't get Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber's memo about using streamers only to celebrate goals?

"Kiss my (butt), Don Garber!" one guy screamed."

Now we have the following message posted on a Crew message board:

"...would everyone feel it were adequate enough of an "apologoy" or sign of solidarity, or whtever it's supposed to be, if all the international flags we held up were from countries that were predominantly white?

If the goal is simply international then wouldn't all of these countries work?

-Canada
-England
-Ireland
-Sweden
-Czech Republic
-Germany
-Switzerland
-Australia
-Norway
-Iceland
-Holland
-Poland
-Finland
-Russia
-Scotland

Just saying, I really don't get the fascination with having an "international apology" for perceived racism"

He sums up our feelings as well, Crew fans still just don't seem to get it. Thus making a repeat occurrence of the racism that was on display at the New England game, just as there was a repeat occurrence of interference in play at the San Jose game, all the more likely and not hard to imagine.

In light of this, we at MLSR urge the league to re-evaluate their punitive measures and ask themselves whether they truly were effective in curtailing a repeat of either of the two problems on display by Crew supporters in New England.

If you feel the same way then let the league and Don Garber know by writing here.

REPORT: MLS to Put Supporters Groups On Notice Regarding Thrown Objects

In a systematic step by step process of addressing the events which occured in Columbus, MLS today has issued another statement. According to this press release from League Headquarters:

NEW YORK -- Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber issued the following statement today regarding the Columbus at the Crew versus Revolution game on May 24.

"MLS has conducted an investigation into events occurring at the game between the Columbus Crew and the New England Revolution on May 24th at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. During that game, objects were thrown onto the field by spectators on a number of occasions, in some cases striking players on the field of play. A number of fans were ejected by security staff as a result of these actions.

As a consequence of this review, MLS and its teams will take the following steps:

1. MLS and its clubs will undertake a comprehensive review of security measures in each MLS facility to ensure that sufficient measures are taken to prevent fans from throwing objects from the stands at players or officials on the field. Additionally, MLS teams and stadiums will fully communicate to all fans attending MLS games the League's policy that spectators in breach will be ejected and prohibited from attending future games.

2. MLS has reviewed the increasingly coordinated use of streamers at some MLS stadiums to affect play, particularly as a distraction to visiting players as they attempt to take corner kicks. MLS teams will communicate to their supporter groups MLS's existing policy - that streamers are not to be used to impact on-field competition or thrown toward a player, referee or stadium staff member. While the spontaneous use of streamers and confetti as an expression of fan enthusiasm will not be prohibited, the continued practice will be kept under review. Should issues continue regarding the use of streamers, MLS will have no option but to prohibit streamers."

On the face of it, this ruling seems to address one part of what occurred in Columbus and the league-wide ban on the racist addresses another. Did the league not go far enough in their punitive measures? Or did they go too far or is this just about right? What do you think?

Specifically regarding the measures MLS is considering to prevent fans from throwing things. Are pictures like this one not too far off?


EDITORS NOTE: At this very hour some Toronto FC Fans are planning to protest the new policy as seen by these comments on a TFC fan board:

Ban isn't far off. So I think it's time for the "streamer day" TIFO.

If they're going to go out....might as well do it in style. That includes one last corner...the corner to end all corners. Just make sure it's not the corner that gets them banned. Once the ban is in place...what is MLS going to do if the whole south stand throws a streamer?

Exactly.They cant ban the WHOLE south end now can they lol?


If they take Streamers away, come back with Flares and Smoke Bombs!!


Then I guess they'll have to ban streamers. I don't see people not throwing them during corners. Even if/when they're banned they'll still be thrown."

Of course they could...but they wouldn't dare.

Here's the pecking order in MLS

Money > everything else..including rules.
If a team can turn a profit by bending one or two "little rules" that the normal MLS crowd didn't even know existed they will.

Now I'm not saying we should..because according to BMO...our loyalty runs deep..but if the whole of the south end (and supporters elsewhere around the stadium) decided not to show up because of a streamer ban....MLS would come up with some rule about how because Toronto has "authentic soccer fans" we'll be allowed streamers. I can't see MLS turning down money because some players don't like getting tissue paper around their legs."

that kinda sucks I always saw the streamers as a non-violent alternative. And BTW this is bull the whole reason people show up to the stadium is because they feel their presence will positively affect their teams performance and/or negatively affect the opposition. So what do we ban next chanting? Applauding? Watching?

people are still going to throw things, if its not streamers, someone will find an alternative.

Easy. Derogatory comments toward people's nationality are not accepted.

I realize you're post was in jest, but the slope is a slippery one and I'd rather not have to lock this down or hand out cards.

that would be a good plan, it's to bad it came down to this, but we all knew it was coming. Columbus SUCKS!!

Read the statement from the commish. My interpretation of point number 2 is that we cannot throw streamers that interfere with play.

We meet with TFC officials regularly to discuss issues and see how things are going. This usually happens at least twice a month if not more. This time, there will be some MLS officials there, so I'm sure this statement will be on the agenda. When I have more information, I will let people know.

I'm more worried about what measures they will take to prevent spectators from throwing objects on the pitch. I can only think of one thing that would work, and I won't even mention it. So either point 1 is "Business as Usual" or there's some really bad news coming..

VIDEO: Shep Messing and Greg Lalas on Columbus

Courtesy of MLS ExtraTime.

VIDEO: 2nd Racist Columbus Crew Video Surfaces

While further investigating this story we came across a 2nd video posted on Youtube which is shot from a slightly different perspective. Apparently this video also aired on Ohio's Fox 28 News so they must have heard what we heard.

One of the chief "defenses" of the Crew supporters has been that "it was only one guy". But the following video shows that at least two people in that section shouted racism towards New England's Dube and Joseph.

On the video you can still hear the guy who shouted the the N-word." But slightly before him you hear a different voice shout "White Power" at 0:33 and then our original mystery racist shouts almost in agreement at 0:36 "You fucking n*gger!" which is fainter in this video and we also hear the n-word a 2nd time, which we didn't in the original video. We have saved the video and plan to forward it to league headquarters to aid in their investigation.



A deeper issue is how it is possible that so many people no doubt heard these two racists and yet did absolutely nothing about them? It is clear from the position of this video in relation to the original one that the players on the pitch most likely heard the racist epithets and more importantly a wide swatch of fans between the Nordeck and wherever this was shot all were within ear shot of the original racist Crew supporter yet in doing nothing, gave tacit approval to him and the other guy who shouted "White Power!"

Additionally on WBNS 10, a Columbus local affiliate's 11pm news a Crew fan and eyewitness to the events named Chris Jewl was in the section likely shown in midfield section the above posted video an went on to say he heard multiple people making racial slurs towards New England players so it is now clear that more than one drunk racist guy on the Nord-ecke was hurling racist epithets at New England players but rather several people. Which means the problem is likely larger than the "one bad apple" turn of events offered by Crew supporters groups, and likely is larger than their supporters groups themselves since if this guy heard them in another section of the stadium and this video clearly picks up more from outside of the supporters corner then this is not a Crew supporters group problem but one of several racist Crew fans in general throughout Columbus Crew Stadium.

When we were sent the original video the person sending the link to us said that supporters, plural, were being racist and one was caught on camera. That in no way limits the problem to just that one supporter and when we tried to make this point we were attacked for "blowing the whole thing out of proportion" and "making a mountain out of a molehill" and "MLS Rumors is as bad as the racist." etc....

We are not the only ones who believe more than "one or two bad apples" were racist. Soccer mag 90 Minutes agrees and adds:

What’s even more disgusting is the fact that the video posted on Youtube wasn’t posted as an indictment of racist behavior. It was posted with pride on how ardent the Columbus supporters are. There were even comments posted as to how “low class” Joseph was for flipping the bird.

When push comes to shove, there were dozens of comments condemning the behavior of “one” fan, even from Columbus supporters. The individual who posted the video was attacked as the one slinging racist slurs. He claims it was the person behind him. In either case, he’s guilty of racism, and so is every other Columbus fan who was sitting in that section that heard the racist comments and did nothing at all about it.

There needs to be a level of self-policing from fans. I’m all for dropping f-bombs and giving the finger. I’m all for taunting players. I grew up in Philadelphia. We booed Santa Claus for Pete’s sake. But there are lines that should never be crossed.

Fans which can not or will not police themselves typically only get the message when their club has to pay a penalty.

In light of this new information, any punishment which does not take these new facts into consideration will be seen as a slap on the wrist.

VIDEO: Dust Up and Donnybrook in Montreal CONCACAF Champions League Qualifier Encouraged By Toronto Media?

At the risk of seeming too negative, and with a heavy heart we have to report the following story of yet another incident involving fan violence associated with the meeting of MLS (and in this case USL) fans.

Earlier today we received the following email from one our reliable Canadian sources:

Keep it on the downlow please...but I'm surprised you haven't herd about the fighting that took place after the montreal game.

From what I know..

1.) TFC scarf was burned by Montreal Ultra's
2) Montreal threw bottles and coins at TFC supporters..
3) Fight started when a Montreal supporter hit a tfc supporter with a flag pole (accident or not..not sure)
4) fight broke out..Toronto laid a beat down on one or two montreal supporters.

In the words of everybody that was there (all of them Toronto fc supproters mind you) they said Montreal wanted the fight and Toronto just gave them what they wanted. After the beat down montreal backed off and that was i

The sad thing is we were afraid this or worse would happen after reading this report in the Toronto star by Cathal Kelly which seemed to be pinning for derby related football violence or at least the threat thereof.

Some excerpts:

At its inception, Major League Soccer shied away from the sort of derby rivalries that animate the game worldwide, especially in the lower leagues. Geography was and is a huge impediment. A North American reluctance to embrace the keystone to hooligan culture was an even bigger deterrent.

But as the league cast about for a fan base, they began to realize that hate is just as important as love to soccer supporters. The only feeling to fear in North America – where wild pre-kickoff brawls just aren't part of the landscape – is apathy.

The creation of Chivas, a Latino cross-city rival for the league's best supported franchise, the L.A. Galaxy, was an acknowledgement of the new strategy.

"You can't manufacture rivalries. They have to emerge," FC exec Paul Beirne pointed out yesterday. They're bred by frequent, unpleasant contact in meaningful matches. A bad tackle, bad refereeing decision or a bad goal spice the broth.

Toronto will take a (figurative) stab at trying to kick something off tonight in Montreal. From the haughty attitude to The Safety Dance to the lady who once pointed me in the exact opposite direction of the Metro entrance, this town has already provided un sac full of reasons to resent them. Maybe soccer can push it over into full-blown fist-waving.

Toronto needs Montreal. It needs them to boo Toronto players and badmouth Toronto's side and play ugly enough that some friction is created. It needs them to leave a bad taste in this city's collective mouth long before they join MLS.

Toronto FC should be doing likewise, unleashing Danny Dichio's elbows and Robinson's cleats in Montreal's general direction. Because winning tonight's game is only the first goal. Laying the groundwork for an intense and mutually profitable enmity is the real object.

Consider that a job well done lads.

If you or someone you know witnessed the incidents described in the email above and shown in the video or others similar to them at the match feel free to write us at mlsrumors@gmail.com to tell your side of the story.