Union Firm... Are THERE any MLS cities that have a Firm?

No. English-style "firms" are never going to happen in the United States, because Americans don't tolerate casual public racism to the extent that Europeans do.

Not that Americans aren't racist as all get-out sometimes, but an American soccer game could never look anything like an English game in the 1990s or an Italian game today. Worst we will get is an occasional drunken idiot getting booted by security (and good riddance). As far as Philly goes, racism in the section will be dealt with in the section and dealt with seriously.

If MLS had a single game where the home fans act like Lazio's fans act every week (swastika banners, fascist salutes, etc.), I can pretty much guarantee you that at a minimum, the club would be shut down, and more than likely it would kill the league. Even a single "monkey chant" from a large contingent of fans (as still happens in England even in this much improved era) would be the top story on SportsCenter for a week.

The "casual" culture of fans who are more interested in designer labels and fighting than in soccer is just as unwelcome here. With so few really local rivalries, and the vast majority of fans more interested in tailgating than bareknuckle brawling, people looking to get into fights every weekend have better places to find them. To most MLS fans, who are really interested in the success of the league, a contingent of fifty visitors from Salt Lake City would be seen as a great thing to be encouraged, rather than as an excuse for a street fight.

 

under what circumstances would it be justified to kick the s*** out of a red-bull fans ass. if any?

what if they got all racist and obnoxious. and i don't want to hear let security deal with it b/c most of the time they suck and wont do anything.

is there any justification for an ass-whooping? i say yes but to be used sparingly if at all

 

I don't think theres ever a good reason to actively start violence against another group. Now, if for example a group of Red Bull supporters corner one or a small group of Union fans and try to take them out, I'd support the defense of your own.

 

Re: Union Firm... Are their any MLS cities that have a Firm?

Ugh, do not want. There's never any reason for that.

 

Re: Union Firm... Are their any MLS cities that have a Firm?

I was in the center of row 26, and I didn't hear any of that. If I had, I would have said something. The racist stuff, and the hooliganism are the aspects of football that absolutely make me cringe. I always think of soccer as "The Beautiful Game," and it drives me nuts that many American sportscasters focus on that crap. When the USMNT beat Spain, Jim Rome acknowledged the victory by showing Tim Howard getting hit in the head with a lit flare. There is absolutely no room in American soccer for that crap. Personally, I think that we, the real and respectible fans of US soccer, need to be the first line of defense against this garbage. Sure, we have our fun, and like to be loud and sing and cheer, but when we start hearing the racist crap, or seeing dangerous shit being thrown on the pitch, or seeing fans being harrassed for no reason, we should be the first ones to alert security. It's our responsibility as real supporters to help as best as we can to get rid of the knuckleheadedness as best as we can. IMHO, I think that hooliganistic fans need to have their picture taken, and be banned fron all MLS stadiums. We need to keep an eye on these "people," and exchange pictures and information with other supporters clubs. This info should be maintained as a single volume, much the same way that casinos worldwide keep pictures of known cheats on file.

 

Re: Union Firm... Are their any MLS cities that have a Firm?

Says you.

 

Re: Union Firm... Are their any MLS cities that have a Firm?

Amen!

 

Re: Union Firm... Are their any MLS cities that have a Firm?

dude if your looking for a fight goto a phillies/mets game or a eagles/giants game up in NY. Or join a boxing gym. First post.

 

Re: Union Firm... Are their any MLS cities that have a Firm?

Hi Scarey. Welcome to the board. How'd you find us and were you at the game Saturday?

 

oh god not another person who just saw GSH or the football factory and now wants be be in a firm. dude piss off firms don't add anything to the game, if you want to fight join a mma league or something.

 

Re: Union Firm... Are their any MLS cities that have a Firm?

hey sara - was pretty stoked about the union starting and found you guys on the union website --> sons of ben website --> big soccer forums - been following things on here for a couple months now and really cant wait till we get started in philly.

unfortunatly i work on the weekends in the summer and wasnt able to get to the game.

-Sean