In a game that should have been remembered for its historic implications, not just for San Diego but its fans who’ve waited so long to see their city host a Major League Soccer match, here we are yet again dealing with the dreaded chant.
It’s the chant that many of us who grew up watching and rooting for the Mexican national team, also known as El Tri, got desensitized to growing up because it’s heard so often, and rarely does anyone bother to educate themselves on its true meaning and implications.
One would have thought that the stance former USL Championship side San Diego Loyal took on Sept. 30, 2020, when it forfeited a match after defender Collin Martin got the same slur (in a different language) from an opposing player, was something that stayed ingrained in the collective mindset. That action, which took place when the team led by head coach Landon Donovan was leading by two goals, not only prevented its goalkeeper Jon Kempin from potentially winning the golden glove but also kept SD Loyal from having any chance at the post-season.
It was that important for the club to reiterate that intolerance and discrimination will not be tolerated and should never be normalized on or off the pitch. Fast forward 53 months to the San Diego FC home-opener against St. Louis City SC in front of a Snapdragon Stadium record-setting 34,506 fans, which kicked off with festivities and firework celebrations for the ages.
SDFC almost caught the opponent napping right after the opening whistle with a long ball to forward Hirving Lozano, who was inches from controlling the pass and having a one-on-one against goalkeeper Roman Bürki.
From that moment on, it was clear that St. Louis City was parking the bus and would gladly settle for the draw, eventually giving up 72% of the possession to San Diego but always with enough numbers in the back to secure the point. It was the 20th minute when this first chant was clearly heard on a goal-kick from Bürki and then repeated itself, particularly in the second-half, when the public address announcement was made reminding fans that chant is not acceptable.
San Diego FC head coach Mikey Varas did not mince words either during the post-game interviews, showing his disappointment and who was most likely responsible for that conduct.
“This came from more the general population in the seats, and it wasn’t everybody,” Varas said. “I understand that, but it was enough people, and I just want to make very clear that it has no place here. It has no place here, and if they continue to come to the game and make that chant, they shouldn’t come here.”
Regardless of what sections or which fans took part in the chant, the question now is: What will be done to prevent it in the future before the league gets involved?
Here are some suggestions:
1) Have undercover security in each section point out and identify the fans who take part and permanently ban them from Snapdragon Stadium (if they happen to be season-ticket holders, reimburse them for the games they will no longer be allowed to attend).
2) Issue a public address announcement just before the game and at halftime reminding fans of the zero tolerance policy and the potential consequences (whether the chants were heard or not).
3) Have Lozano (who left the game in the 28th minute with an apparent hamstring injury) record a short video repeating the same thing that can be aired before the opening whistle.
San Diego FC won’t play at home until its March 15 meeting against the Columbus Crew, which gives the front office less than two weeks to be decisive in getting the word out that this garbage will not happen again. It’s sad that in 2025 and over four years after what San Diego Loyal did, we are still dealing with this issue, but we, as soccer fans and San Diegans, also have to do our best and make sure our efforts were not in vain.
Fotos por San Diego FC
