The recent blowback where MLS owners blocked their own fans
from combatting fascism and racism is part of a bigger structural problem in
American soccer. Many of the owners are NFL guys who just happen to own MLS
teams and their ideological affiliations are much closer to the POTUS than the
people who attend the games.
Franchised/single entity/closed leagues are exclusionist for
a reason, so these enthusiastic soccer fans need to push for an open system
that includes every club and allows for community-based teams that reflect the
fans’ values.
If people in MLS markets really care about soccer, they need
to turn their backs on the league and start backing lower tier clubs outside of
USL since MLS and USL are part of the same soccer cartel that is ruining things
for the bottom portion of the pyramid.
Here in North Carolina, NCFC is trying to move from its
current taxpayer funded stadium in Cary by urging county and local officials to
build a new taxpayer funded stadium just south of downtown Raleigh. Steve Malik
is no longer guaranteeing that capital city will even get an MLS team, which
makes the idea of a new stadium even more ridiculous and it was a good thing
that the Wake County commissioners passed on funding that stadium. I don’t know
if the Raleigh City Council will be as strong in resisting.
As a result, I am far more likely to support one of the UPSL
teams—Lazers SC, SOSA FC or Raleigh International FC—instead.
People in Atlanta can rally behind Atlanta SC or Georgia
Revolution FC of the NPSL or the likes of a team (LSA Pro) or an entire
conference (Atlanta Caribbean) in the UPSL if Atlanta United won’t do right.
The people in the NY metro area aren’t short of options to
back instead of the two MLS franchises. If the Cosmos aren’t your cup of tea,
support another NPSL squad, rally behind a UPSL club, go to a Long Island
Soccer Football League game or attend a Cosmopolitan Soccer League match.
Out west, where things really got heated during the August
23 match between the Timbers and the Sounders. Rather than buying a ticket,
Timbers fans should have stayed away from CenturyLink Field and in the future dump
the team in favor of FCM Portland or PDX FC (both in the NPSL).
The same goes for Sounders fans protesting fascism and the
halfhearted responses from the Pacific Northwest teams and the league. The
NPSL’s OSA Seattle FC and Crossfire Redmond as well as the UPSL’s Seattle City
Pro would appreciate your presence.
