Toronto Star - News Correction (re allegations of a racial abuse incident) & letter to the editor!

Blizzard · Apr 8, 2009

News correction for April 8
Apr 08, 2009 04:30 AM

An April 5 article on the behaviour of Toronto FC soccer fans incorrectly stated that Maple Leaf Sports executives are concerned about the racial abuse of a player last season. In fact, it is executives of Major League Soccer who are concerned with that racial abuse incident. That incident did not involve any players or fans of Toronto FC, which is owned by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

http://www.thestar.com/Corrections/article/615421

I was alarmed to see soccer "hooliganism" on your front page when there is really no cause for concern.
Cathal Kelly reports a single arrest in Columbus in a game attended by 16,000 people, mostly young men. Surely the low arrest rate indicates exceptionally good behaviour.
He also bemoans the plastic cups and paper streamers thrown in the home match against Seattle. I was there, in the south end, and did see one beer cup being thrown. Security responded quickly and effectively, identifying and removing the culprit to universal approval. Kelly also criticizes the amount of beer being drunk, yet acknowledges this causes no more trouble than at the Air Canada Centre.
Hooliganism in England, invoked by Mr. Kelly, consisted of large, organized gangs of violent thugs terrorizing town centres and local populations. Their behaviour often resulted in serious damage, injury, or death.
To compare that to the infectious enthusiasm of 20-something Canadian youths throwing streamers does a terrible disservice to the passion and commitment that has made TFC the success it is.
Ivan Lewis, Toronto

http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/615262

atlanticTFCfan · Apr 8, 2009

Re: Toronto Star - News Correction (re allegations of a racial abuse incident) & letter to the edito

Blizzard said: ↑

News correction for April 8
Apr 08, 2009 04:30 AM

An April 5 article on the behaviour of Toronto FC soccer fans incorrectly stated that Maple Leaf Sports executives are concerned about the racial abuse of a player last season. In fact, it is executives of Major League Soccer who are concerned with that racial abuse incident. That incident did not involve any players or fans of Toronto FC, which is owned by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment.

http://www.thestar.com/Corrections/article/615421

I was alarmed to see soccer "hooliganism" on your front page when there is really no cause for concern.
Cathal Kelly reports a single arrest in Columbus in a game attended by 16,000 people, mostly young men. Surely the low arrest rate indicates exceptionally good behaviour.
He also bemoans the plastic cups and paper streamers thrown in the home match against Seattle. I was there, in the south end, and did see one beer cup being thrown. Security responded quickly and effectively, identifying and removing the culprit to universal approval. Kelly also criticizes the amount of beer being drunk, yet acknowledges this causes no more trouble than at the Air Canada Centre.
Hooliganism in England, invoked by Mr. Kelly, consisted of large, organized gangs of violent thugs terrorizing town centres and local populations. Their behaviour often resulted in serious damage, injury, or death.
To compare that to the infectious enthusiasm of 20-something Canadian youths throwing streamers does a terrible disservice to the passion and commitment that has made TFC the success it is.
Ivan Lewis, Toronto

http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/615262
Click to expand...

With this much inaccuracies in Cathal Kelly's reporting, it kinda makes one wonder why The Star hasn't sacked this idiot. He and Bob McCown are the two biggest anti-soccer hacks Toronto has.

Blizzard · Apr 8, 2009

Re: Toronto Star - News Correction (re allegations of a racial abuse incident) & letter to the edito

atlanticTFCfan said: ↑

With this much inaccuracies in Cathal Kelly's reporting, it kinda makes one wonder why The Star hasn't sacked this idiot. He and Bob McCown are the two biggest anti-soccer hacks Toronto has.
Click to expand...

Well, unfortunately, the story is still up with all its inaccuracies. It has been edited but only in that MLSE has been changed to Major League Soccer and it still implicates TFC Supporters in a "racial abuse incident".

http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/613986

"In fact, nothing like the behaviour of Toronto FC fans would be tolerated in England. That laxity has drawn quiet concern from Major League Soccer executives, especially following incidents like last weekend's in Columbus and the racial abuse of a player last season."