Fracas In The Fort: Revolution Supporters Banned and Arrested For Profane Chants
by Steve Stoehr on Jun 20, 2011 9:05 PM EDT
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If anyone has anything else relevant to Saturday night's events - especially videos - please email them or post them in the comment section.
During Saturday night's New England Revolution match against the Chicago Fire at Gillette Stadium there was a disturbance in the general admission section known as "The Fort." Sections 142 and 143, where the team's most hardcore fans sit, was the site of a walkout and multiple arrests after TeamOps and security had several altercations with supporters, allegedly started over the repeated use of a particular chant.
I was in the press box and I remember seeing something go down, but I was too far away and too disconnected to know exactly what. All I remember is that after a certain point in the second half, the sound on the field died and the Fort looked almost empty. It was the tweets from Brian Smith and other supporters that alerted us to the goings-on, but certainly nothing could have prepared me for what I heard actually happened.
I got the emotionally-charged cliff notes version of the story after the match at Bar Louie, but today I had a long phone conversation with Kyle Santos, co-founder of the Rebellion, where I got a full rundown of the night's events. Coupled with the accounts posted elsewhere on The Indirect Kick and The Drug Is Football, I think I can speak with some authority on at least one viewpoint from the incident.
The debacle centers on the Supporters' Groups use of the "You Suck A**hole" chant whenever an opposing goalkeeper takes goal kicks. Earlier this season, the Front Office approached the Rebellion and the Riders and asked them to start cutting out the profanity in those situations. According to Kyle, they were told that particular chant was having an undesirable effect on other season ticket holders. When Kyle pointed out that getting the entire group to stop using a phrase that had been kosher for a decade or more, the FO staff were understanding and said that if it could be totally knocked out by the end of the season they would be happy.
The Riders and the Rebels both went a step further and distributed PDF files to outline the Fort "code of conduct." Despite all of this, the process of removing that phrase from matchday proceedings was predictably slow. Apparently, this weekend the Revs and TeamOps reached their last straw.
"You could tell when you showed up," Kyle said. "You just knew something was going to happen."
Fans made note of the increased presence of police and TeamOps staff around the Fort early in the match, but it wasn't until later that the situation escalated. Monty Rodrigues, former long-time president of the Midnight Riders, was verbally abused by TeamOps staff while standing as capo in the second half. After being twice berated - with profane language, mind you - by security/TeamOps representatives and being accused of leading offensive chants and inciting a riot, Monty threw up his hands and walked out of the Fort.
Keep in mind that capos are told in no uncertain terms not to swear, because otherwise the megaphone will be taken from them. I've been to games, I've sat in the Fort, and I don't remember Monty swearing or leading chants with profanity, unless it was added by the supporters.
At that point, TeamOps, security and police descended on the Fort with what seemed to be extreme prejudice. This is stuff you can see in the TV broadcast of the match. "They came down like they'd had a pep talk from Knute Rockne," recalled Santos. Fans were removed forcefully from the Fort, and even those who peacefully and unassumingly followed Monty out in protest were randomly grabbed and, in some cases, arrested for it. In the video below provided by a supporter in the area, you can clearly see a fan offering no resistance as he is arrested for, to quote the Foxborough police officer cuffing him, "being a f*****g dickhead."
The night ended with a nearly empty Fort. There are two confirmed arrests and 20 Gillette Stadium bans, with rumors of far more. Later in the match, several independent supporters tried to get up and lead the sparse remaining fans in some innocuous (and now nearly inaudible) chants and songs but were yoked up and removed from the premises almost immediately.
At a restaurant after the match, Kyle was approached by players demanding to know what happened. They had noticed the dramatic drop in volume in the second half and were confused. When he explained the situation, they expressed bafflement bordering on outrage.
Kyle is confident that the problem doesn't lie with the front office. "It's just weird, I don't get it. I know it's not anything with the Front Office, because I know they would try. Nobody was in the right on Saturday, not us, not them, but maybe someone forced the Revs to let them be heavy-handed."
Event security at Gillette is run by TeamOps, an organization that answers solely to Bob Kraft. According to Kyle, security teams are different for almost every match. There is no opportunity to establish rapport or continuity with their staff, and if the Rebellion requests a meeting with Gillette's TeamOps head, Mark Briggs, they are ignored. Meetings with the front office, meanwhile, are always granted.
However, Brian Bilello was quick to point out that Saturday night had everything to do with the Revolution and nothing to do with TeamOps. In a post on the team's Facebook page, he stated "...make no mistake, the issue [Saturday] was about a member of the Revolution staff...asking on behalf of the organization to once again stop using that chant. This was not a security issue."
Santos is unsure what to think of the events, but is pretty sure there won't be any serious fallout.
"The supporters will be silent in protest, which is exactly what team ops wants because they won't have to deal with it. It's whatever team ops wants. It's a no-win situation for anybody. Nobody wins.
"Honestly, we talked amongst the groups and we don't think there's anything we can really do. We're gonna talk about it and go from there. We don't know what to do, it's so unprecedented that we're totally unprepared. We'll probably just tell our members to stop swearing and go from there. As long as we can still support the team that's all that matters."
It is, however, important to note that and keep perspective. Imagine if this happened overseas or in a different country - supporters would literally riot. As it stands, Kyle and the Rebellion have received dozens, if not hundreds, of messages of support from other MLS supporters groups (every club represented) and even supporters of soccer from other countries via text message, Facebook and Twitter.
If any of you have unique perspectives on the events or have videos and/or photos, please email them to thebentmusket@gmail.com or leave them in the comment section as you continue this discussion.
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This was handled awfully
I really hope there’s further clarification coming on whether or not this was a Revs issue or a TeamOps problem.
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation
Reminds me of the situation between Rapids fans and the FO a few years ago. Quite sad to see that this is still something that MLS hasn’t fully figured out how to deal with yet.
#FireBobBradley
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It's totally out of left field, too
The Revs FO is normally very, very open and supportive of the Fort SGs. They have some slightly more strict rules in the stadium on certain things than elsewhere in the league, but within the framework they are usually a dream to work with by all accounts. I think the number one common feeling permeating the entire situation is shock.
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation
by Steve Stoehr on Jun 21, 2011 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions
this is absolute horrid
July 20th – hope some of you guys can make the drive down to DC and enjoy yourselves.
Most diverse sports fan you will ever meet. Literally.
Apart from the question of whether it was appropriate for TeamOps to act with the level of force they did, they appear to have carried out their operation with a distinct lack of professionalism. This is even after taking into consideration the unfortunately one-sided nature of these reports.
And also, alleged use of profanity at a sporting event definitely DOES NOT call for this kind of action.
Apparently other arrest/removal incidents were worse
You can clearly hear the cop in the video I posted saying the fan was being arrested for being a dickhead. But apparently in other situations they were even rougher and more physical with fans who were in no way disruptive. Also, I believe that same officer said to the fan “fuck your rights” when asked about Miranda Rights, and called him a “pussy” for being in the Navy.
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation
by Steve Stoehr on Jun 21, 2011 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions
In this case
It was Foxborough PD
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation
by Steve Stoehr on Jun 21, 2011 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Profanity in General
Asking a collective group to stop using profanity at a professional sporting event is like telling a teenage boy not to masturbate. Messy situation either way.
by $ick Na$ty on Jun 20, 2011 11:09 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
SOlidarity Now!
If any of you guys come to the Philly game, I’ll sell my seats for face and throw in the parking pass.
(I’m only willing to go so far for the opposition ;) )
In Support
This behavior by security is astounding at a time when the Revs are consistently struggling to attract fans to cavernous Gillette.
Ridiculous
The dialogue with the FO should be enough to allow those channels to be discussed between the FO and the group of Rent A Cops to point out that this is a different breed of crowd. This is a supporters section isn’t it? The one place where swearing and debauchery should be allowed. Your rabid support and hard earned money should be enough for the FO to take a stand with you, not against you. This starts with the FO not being assertive enough to tell the RentAcOps to back the f*** off. SG self regulation is another thing needed here it seems.
SG Self Regulation is actually pretty good.
The problem is that the Revs have relied wholly on that for so long with no consequences, and then suddenly on Saturday they went riot squad on the Fort with no warning.
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation
by Steve Stoehr on Jun 21, 2011 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Not int the Fort but...
My father and I have been season ticket holders since thier first season in old Foxboro. I was maybe 7 or 8 at the time? Anyway, I don’t sit in the Fort but honestly my Father and I have talked about it this season because sitting at midfield is like going to a PGA event. The atmousphere is awful because the marketing is geared to “family friendly” whatever that means. This is just another gaffe by the owners of the Revolution that don’t seem to care one bit. It’s a joke how far behind we are in comparison to most of the league. MA, CT, and RI are huge markets for the sport and we’re lucky to get 8,000 to game. It’s an utter farce and this situation just takes the cake. If you want to take your family to a sporting event you better be able to take the heat or get out of the kitchen. No re-investment into the club, no marketing, and now they a supressing the only fans that make the atmosphere interesting. The revolution are headed the way of the Miami Fusion, and it’s sad given the popularity of the sport and the wealth of many in the area. This team should be contending with LA, NY, and RSL but we’re not because the ownership does not care.
100% correct
The Revs shouldn’t be alienating the only real supporters they have. This is soccer/futbol, it’s different from the other big 4 sports here, if the game is going to grow and flourish in the USA and in New England it has to be treated seriously. Look at the majority of soccer fans and they are not caucasian families with an army of children, they should go to a carnival if thats the atmosphere they are looking for. If the Revs are to become popular here, the games need to feel like a real soccer match, not a birthday party, that’s the only way to get a more ethnic crowd who prefers soccer to other sports, and in turn will be far more loyal.
All you need to do is go to an international match at Gillette to see the difference. When I went to see Brazil play Mexico a few years ago, it was a monstrous crowd of real soccer fans. It was loud lively and energetic, sure there was a sense that with that much energy it could turn ugly at any point, but it didn’t. Sure people were more rowdy and throwing beers and yelling crude remarks, but I would trade the Revs crowd for that crowd any day.
I too sit midfield and if you get excited and yell something, people will turn and look at you like you’re crazy, as if your yelling shouldn’t interfere with their serene soccer viewing experience. To be honest I never knew that the supporters were shouting “You Suck A**hole!” I’ve only ever heard the “You Suck!” part, so so much for it being the nuisance that Team Ops thinks it is. And honestly they would never do this at a Patriots game, there would be too much bad press. The small soccer team and their even smaller group of supporters are an easy target with little to no consequences. It’s just a bunch of punk, unhappy-at-home, fake tough guy cowards who get big when they have a ton of guys with them and gang up on a smaller group, good job being a bunch of bullies.
Remember kid, there's heroes and there's legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die, follow your heart kid, and you'll never go wrong. - The Babe, The Sandlot
Krafts are solidly in the top 20 in terms of MLS ownership
Honestly. This solidifies the Krafts as one of the worst ownership groups in the league. The whole “You suck a$$hole” is not at all mean spirited, it’s just funny. I’ve been at baseball games where there’s a nearby fan trying to scream to the right fielder things about his wife and mother.
The only other stadium I’ve visited was Qwest in Seattle and there you get 30k people chanting “you suck” with 10k of those continuiing with “a$$hole”. Sterilizing the game does not make for a profitable franchise.
Wow.
Long time Timbers STH here. Folks in the Fort, you have my deepest sympathies. From the left coast it looks pretty clear that you were wronged, badly.
Two things.
(1) I’m all for killing off the YSA chant, but mostly just because I find it boring and classless, not because anybody should be ejected, banned, or ARRESTED, fercryingoutloud. It’s more that there are far more clever and creative things the crowd can chant and sing. It took a while for YSA to finally be killed off in Portland, but the Timbers Army managed to do it. Given time and work, I’m sure you guys can do it, too, and replace it with far funnier and more interesting chants to boot.
(2) Regardless of the FO’s stance on YSA, this seems to have been handled by the authorities in about the worst fashion possible. Really? We’re going to ban and arrest people for saying the word “a**hole?” I’m a 47 year old mother of three (yep, soccer mom!) and an elementary school principal, supposedly the demographic whose delicate sensibilities might (gasp) be offended by such flowery language. Truth is, if I suspended every student who said that word in school there might be days when my classrooms were as empty as Gillette was by the end of the game. I can’t imagine that this sort of ham-handed action is at all good for the club in the long run.
West Side, West Side, sing us a song!
Another Timbers STH here. I’m not a fan of YSA being shouted during matches, HOWEVER I believe the atmosphere in any SG section should be up to that group. If you want to shout “donkey balls” during PKs, you should be able to if you want." Best of luck to you guys in dealing with your FO and security in the coming days and weeks. I’ll be supporting your efforts from the PNW.
Cheers.
by Ryan Pollard on Jun 21, 2011 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
If you want to shout "donkey balls" during PKs, you should be able to if you want."
I’m totally up for making this an MLS tradition from now on
#FireBobBradley
2011 Buffalo Bills - as of right now, guaranteed not to lose a game this year!
Burgundy Wave - SBnation's Colorado Rapids site
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by UZ on Jun 21, 2011 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions
You should protest
What they did is wrong……And if you guys come to SKC we will gladly listen to you yell a**fucker at our keeper…I will not agree with what your saying but i will support your right to chant whatever you want……..
Timbers fan here
This is a travesty to building a supporter culture in MLS. The TeamOps or whoever need to get dressed down thoroughly by the front office for what sounds like an excessive use of authority and force for something that is an extremely minor offense.
Yes, profanity is not something that should be encouraged, esp. the YSA chant, which really should die a horrible death. Things happen though, and you can’t eliminate it altogether. But going in riotbuster-style and removing fans, and esp. verbally abusing them when there’s no need and no resistance to boot just sets the TEAM in a bad light, and I’m willing to bet that the FO doesn’t want that.
I’m inviting all you guys in the Fort to come out to Portland, where you can chant all you want (just don’t count on most of the stadium hearing you, cuz we Army types are kinda loud!)
Blazers win!
by The X-man on Jun 21, 2011 2:05 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Like someone said in the video....."this team is dead"
And people wonder why no one shows up anymore? It is a shame for the hardcore fans to have crap thrown at them over and over again and never get rewarded for anything. Sell the team Mr. Kraft. Sell the damn team.
DFA Cameron
Having consistent security is key
The thing that gets me right away is that it’s a constantly changing group of people in charge of security. That is flat-out stupid on the part of TeamOps and/or the Revs FO. Having the same guys every game at RFK has calmed a lot of problems because both sides build an understanding and a knowledge of the other.
I know having the same head of security on RFK’s loud side kept me from getting thrown out after a casual fan at a playoff game (2006 EC final, Revs fans) decided that my friends and I were entirely at fault for the fact that the loud side at RFK is a standing area. If security was unfamiliar with us, he’d have taken one look at the supposedly innocent dad (who at various points threatened to “beat the shit out of [me],” threw a sandwich at me, and more or less constantly verbally harassed us) and one look at the guys in various supporter garb, and I’d have been given the boot.
Instead, he gave me a chance to explain, saw that I was totally sober and reasonable while the other guy was foaming at the mouth, and resolved the situation by just letting us move to some empty seats closer to the field.
This whole situation is bizarre, especially since the Revs need more fans and more atmosphere, not less. If the FO is as everyone is saying, then obviously you have a situation with TeamOps that needs resolving. The fact that the Rebellion can’t get a meeting with the head of TeamOps indicates that things are very messed up indeed. You’d think that Briggs would want to meet up with supporters, since I’m sure this whole thing has been an enormous pain in his ass too.
Hopefully the outcry over this will spread a bit, and perhaps the Krafts can be publicly hung out to dry over it. If TeamOps is indeed only answerable to them, then there aren’t many other options beyond hoping that they are embarrassed into changing.
I have no input into these kinds of things, but I hope that fans in DC and elsewhere put up banners supporting the Rebellion on this.
Writer - Black and Red United
by ChestRockwell on Jun 21, 2011 4:10 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Unfortunately
team ops is not the only thing that needs an overhaul. If there are some fans who supposedly complained about the chant then that is really the major problem. The Krafts market the Revs game like a carnival at your local church rather than a sporting event. Until that changes you will continue to have uptight fans who occasionally come and thier 4 children might end uo hearing a bad word causing the fans who come game in and game out to watch a terrible product get thrown out. Since I no longer live at home I only go to a select few games, my parents go to all the rest. The Fort has to put up with some pretty ugly football and it’s rather unfortunate. There are many things wrong with this program and this dibacle is just the tip of the iceberg.
Bad move by the Revs
I have followed the Sounders since 1974, back in the NASL days this was a common chant as was "f.. the Ref" and "Bull Sh..". As a kid it was lots of fun to mock the GK and the Ref in this way and now as an adult I do not participate in such chants but I don’t find it anything to worry about. I believe the same thing happened in Columbus and their attendance is down about 30%.
This might also have something to do with the TV broadcasts?
But you would think the broadcasters could play crowd noise, broadcast at a different time or they could hit the mute button? Everyone knows what is going to happen during a goal kick the networks should be prepared to take whatever action they feel is appropriate. Arresting people and banning them is very bad for the sport, this is not good news!
I want to point out that the SGs are not unhappy about being told to cut down on profanity
I, too, believe that profanity is a natural part of the sporting experience at this level in any sport and should be taken with a grain of salt, but the Rebellion and the Riders are not upset about being told not to swear. They are upset about the manner in which events were handled on Saturday, and that’s the major focus of their protests.
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation
Point of clarification
This chant in question has not been “kosher” for a decade or more. Bilello and the Front Office have been asking the SG’s to clean up the chants and songs for years. There have been conversations and discussions – anyone who was paying attention at a supporters group summit can tell you that.
I’m not saying that it’s going to be easy to change the culture, especially when the supporters groups are disjointed and fractured (ducking). Perhaps the SG’s can use this unfortunate event to bring some unity and organization to the Fort, organize a march in before every game, and continue to gather after the game and sing on the way out.
Also – we need to get more creative. There are a ton of smart and talented people in the SG’s, but if the best we can come up with is “YSA” or even “YOU SUCK” then we are doing this team a disservice.
by The Midnight Ride on Jun 22, 2011 11:12 AM EDT reply actions
I like "You Suck!" on every goal kick.
It’s simple and has punch. Adding “a**hole” makes it clunky and unimaginative. Regardless, there’s been an element of implied permissiveness about the whole profanity thing for years now, and to suddenly and immediately escalate with this sort of force is uncalled for, in my opinion. Especially if, as Kyle said, someone told them earlier this season that if it was weaned out by the end of the season they’d be happy. Last I checked we’re only about halfway through.
I do hope the SGs use this as an opportunity to continue to try and revolutionize Fort support, but unfortunately I think a lot of them are just going to return their season tickets.
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation
by Steve Stoehr on Jun 22, 2011 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
What kind of force?
I was 4 sections away and didn’t notice a thing. You were in the press box paying attention to the game. I’m not saying nothing happened, but all I’ve seen is one video of a heavily overserved fan getting arrested and harrassed by the Foxborough PD. I’ve heard all sorts of stories saying there were 20 people banned and 10-15 people arrested – but the FO says only one arrest and one “disinvited” (meaning banned). That’s a huge discrepancy – where is the truth?
I’m talking with Fran tonight before the USMNT match – I hope to get some facts before I go on the air tomorrow night, because right now its still too loose.
by The Midnight Ride on Jun 22, 2011 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Fan was apparently not "heavily overserved."
He seemed like he’d maybe been drinking, but that’s also not arrest-worthy. Neither is “being a f*****g dickhead.” And it doesn’t change the fact that Monty was verbally abused twice by TeamOps personnel, and if you don’t believe that you can take it up with him.
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation
by Steve Stoehr on Jun 22, 2011 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Not being a f*****g dickhead
I’m just trying to get clarification on the numbers – how many arrested, how many PC’d, how many ejected, how many banned. Herald this morning said 1 arrest, and 3 pc’d. Also I’m assuming this Stacey James person is the person that was the one talking to Monty, but I’m trying to confirm that as well.
I talked with Brian and Fran, trying to get in touch with Brendan… looking for more facts. Going live on the air tonight… hope you’ll join in.
by The Midnight Ride on Jun 23, 2011 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Can't, I got a work meeting
The woman berating Monty was wearing a regular TeamOps employee shirt, by all accounts. Everything I published was straight from Kyle as well as Brian’s recap and what was in Bilello’s FB posts, so I’m inclined to believe that I’ve got more or less the right story, but the arrest/ban numbers are anybody’s guess.
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation
by Steve Stoehr on Jun 23, 2011 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Ridiculous
We need more atmosphere at these games. Something has to keep people excited and coming back. Alienating supporters groups and quelling that atmosphere is the wrong approach. I’m ready to give up my season tickets if things don’t get better.
Sticky Situation
A while back there was a similar incident with the San Jose Quakes regarding the profane Charlie Sheen Tifo. I had the same insight on that that I do on this, this time, however, I have broadened my perspective.
For the most part, I think most people are OK with profanity but there are a select few who are sensitive and anal and ruin the party for everyone. The F.O is only going to do what is the best interest of preserving as many seats at the games. At the end of the day, it is all about the money, always follow the money.
They will almost always disregard the fact that these are SOCCER Games and it is all being done in the name of fun. Too bad the ‘offended’ always get the attention.
I answered ‘no’ on the polls because its sickening to hear about this, why are you going to punish the bunch which is the backbone of the team? The F.O has clearly put its eggs in the wrong basket. They find it OK to be on the other side because like I said at the end of the day it is all about the money.
As much as I hate to say this, I think both sides need to meet halfway, it’s the only way to achieve solution. As awesome as a Riot would be, I don’t know if it will be effective, silent treatments always work better. I think instead of ‘asshole’ the team could say something else. Still keep the harshness just change the words, then they have nothing to say.
Said and done, this is really annoying to hear about.
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