MLS commissioner: Quit with the vulgar chants
NEW YORK -- MLS commissioner Don Garber says fans need to stop with the vulgar chants at MLS games.
In an interview with SportingNews, Garber says he was dismayed while attending a recent match in New York when fans began the increasingly popular, but vulgar chant: "You suck, a------" when the opposing goalkeeper takes a goal kick.
"That is just infuriating to me. It's just so uncreative and ridiculous, and we need to stop it," Garber said in the interview. "Our broadcast partners don't like it. When vulgarity is going over the air, it's an issue with the FCC and we've got to stop it."
The chant has been heard at several stadiums around the league, including Seattle.
"They need to stop it in New York, and they need to stop it in a handful of other markets," Garber said. "And if they don't stop it, we're going to have to find a way to eradicate it from our game."
He said the league can't have young kids in stadiums listening to vulgarity.
"No other league would tolerate it. No other public event would have it and we can't tolerate it in Major League Soccer."
Sounders ownership told KOMO Radio they agreed the chant needs to end.
In an interview with SportingNews, Garber says he was dismayed while attending a recent match in New York when fans began the increasingly popular, but vulgar chant: "You suck, a------" when the opposing goalkeeper takes a goal kick.
"That is just infuriating to me. It's just so uncreative and ridiculous, and we need to stop it," Garber said in the interview. "Our broadcast partners don't like it. When vulgarity is going over the air, it's an issue with the FCC and we've got to stop it."
The chant has been heard at several stadiums around the league, including Seattle.
"They need to stop it in New York, and they need to stop it in a handful of other markets," Garber said. "And if they don't stop it, we're going to have to find a way to eradicate it from our game."
He said the league can't have young kids in stadiums listening to vulgarity.
"No other league would tolerate it. No other public event would have it and we can't tolerate it in Major League Soccer."
Sounders ownership told KOMO Radio they agreed the chant needs to end.
Stupid argument about the names. And people in this country need to stop turning men's names into women's as though it was some kind of a new fashion statement. "Robin" has ALWAYS been a man's name, since it first originated in the 1300's in England. But somhow, about 20 years ago, some people decided to start using for girls. "Marion"---has always been a man's name---heck---John Wayne's original name was Marion. Ditto for "Shelby", Tracy and Stacy and Hunter. Best buddy of mine's wife named their daughter "Cameron"--which is a MAN's name, always has been. This is stupid. And it's not fashionable. What's next--name your daughter "William"?
 @oldarmysoldier Not true. There are *many* names that are used by both genders; they are completely the same, or have only slightly different spellings.."Marion", for instance, is used for men; "Marian" is used for women. At any rate, it isn't anyone's business what other people name their children...Just as language changes over time, so do names and the way people use them.
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At any rate, I think you need to mind your own business. The big issue here is that people need to stop using vulgarities during sports events. Not if a girl is named "Cameron", for crying out loud. Who cares what name she's given?
Ashley is not just a girl's name, and to say so indicates you are not very well read. Scarlett O'Hara was completely enamored with Ashley Wilkes and was bereft when he took up with that Melanie.Â
 @justsaying In today's society, it is a feminine name. Meaning of words change over time.
 @justsaying I loathe GWTW, but you're right, Ashley was a male name long before people started using it for girls.
What I find ironic is Komo, the MLS and other organizations are very much against using vulgar language because they want to be so "family oriented" yet they constantly promote same-sex marriage and shove that down our throats. I'm not trying to make a statement one way or another. All I'm saying is you can't have your cake and eat it too. If you are going to promote a family friendly event then please stop telling my family and I that same-sex marriage is OK. My kids don't need to know about that stuff before they even reach puberty. It's a shame that I have to monitor what my kids are watching very closely at 4pm because of the content that is on channels like Komo yet everyone is worried about swearing on television? Liberals love to preach morals but only when it fits their current agenda. I'm done with the MLS. Â
Absolutely correct. @FremontTroll
@FremontTroll You are a fool. Take your homophobia somewhere else please. I hear fox news is looking for more viewers.
 @FremontTroll How old are your kids that (a) you have to monitor what they're watching when the news is on and (b) what kid UNDER pubescent age WATCHES the news?!?  Where does one go from SOCCER to gay marriage?!?!  I don't see the connection in your post.....
Signs that say an opposing player's name is a girl's name is funny. No problem there. But the commish is right, the "you suck a-------" chant is old, uncreative, and vulgar. It's a little embarrassing to be at the game wearing Sounders-branded clothing and being associated with such a dumb chant.
@keeper The sign is childish, and unnecessary, but at least it's not vulgar.
It's really a shame that they try to pin this on the ECS groups, I sit with them and we actually discourage this pointless chant. It's the rest of the stadium that does it. We have had some chants that contain profanity, but ECS leadership has done a good job of cleaning that up. Through discussion the leaders have determined our support should be a positive lift for the team and not just jabs at the other team. We are there to support, after all.
@Wasabi Peas You're right. Putting
....people "up against the wall" to "shoot them" isn't vulgar either. Talking about execution is fun.
It's only vulgar if you are a politically correct rube.
I kind of agree, but its not just the chants. I had Sounders season tickets for several years and enjoyed going. I went to one match at Starfire and some 20 something waving a giant flag of an unnamed supporters club was not paying attention and smacked an old lady straight up in the head and had her grabbing her eye. Did she get an apology? Nope. Pointed it out to the people that looked like they were running the show and got told "she shouldn't sit here then". I'm all for strong support of the home team, but when did sports get so rude that you can't take kids and if you can't dodge the rudeness of others you risk injury? I gave up my Sounders tickets and watch on TV now.Â
 @marvin Those that gave you the platitude "she shouldn't sit here then" are somewhat correct. That section is for rowdy fans who and is the only place in the stadium where those large banners are allowed to block the view of others behind them. It's where tifo's are displayed. Granted, the Sounders should do a better job of stating what is expected if you sit there.
 @keeper On, and I forgot the most important thing, frankly. I'm not for injuring senior citizens not matter what section they choose to sit in. And if accidentally injured, then an apology is in order, regardless of what section of the stadium she sits in. Have you lost your humanity?
 @keeper I understand that at the Clink. But we were at Starfire. And frankly, they did have one sectioned off for that group and we were not in it. The flag bearer ran to our section, which was next to theirs.
If the story is true, it's a shame you gave up your tickets due to one moron. I'm guessing you are one of the type that throws hotdogs at us from above due to the flags.
 @Wasabi Peas No, hotdogs are too expensive. And I don't mind the flags at all, frankly. What I mind if the attitude that this sport has to be supported by hooligans that don't mind cracking on an old lady (who was not even in their section) and who make it impossible for someone to bring their kids to a match because of the vulgar language. It isn't one moron that caused me to give up my tickets. It is the culture that you can't bring a family to a match. I hit up a Portland match a few years ago and for the first time in as long as I remember, because I was wearing a green scarf, I felt my family was in danger because of the actions of the morons there. If this is meant to be a sport for adult fans only, then I'm perfectly fine with that, but then the Sounders should advertise it that way. Don't bring your kids.
"No other league would tolerate it." Really? I'm pretty sure no other league would tolerate having such a pansy as commissioner.
I totally agree with Garber. I've always found that to be really class-less.Â
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I dare say you wouldn't be able to hold your own against a lady soccer player, running up and down the field for 90 minutes. If it's such a girlie sport, what does that say about you?