Hello, and welcome to American Tifo, a newsletter for, and about, North American soccer supporters. Thank you for being here. If you haven’t already, subscribe! If you’re a member of a supporters group, please consider sharing this with the rest of your SG and encouraging them to subscribe as well.
The North American soccer season is now in full swing, as we careen towards the brutally hot stretches of summer. Things have been hectic over here at American Tifo HQ, so keeping things short this week, with a light swing through the North American soccer landscape of the past few weeks.
First, the fun stuff, tifos!
Willie Nelson turned 90 and Los Verdes made a tifo for it.
Gotham supporters group Cloud 9 never disappoints with their tifo game and the club’s April 22nd match with NC Courage was no different with a stunning tifo featuring a Langston Hughes quote and the Statue of Liberty.
However a torrential rainstorm featuring a lengthy lightning delay force the SG to issue a change on Twitter after the fact.
In Minnesota, Dark Clouds and Wonderwall collaborated with local Native business Heart Berry, and its owner Sarah Agaton Howes, to design and display an impressive tifo for Minnesota United’s first ever Native American Heritage Night.
“Our art is really beautiful and people can say, oh that’s really pretty, but that art is meant to tell stories and to be utilized in a way and remind us of things,” Howes told Sota Soccer, in a wonderful article. “So, I really try and use that and the platform to do this kind of work. That’s what’s really important to me, not just making stuff, but making stuff that makes work move.”
Be sure to check out the full piece and head to the Dark Clouds Store to pick up the tifo design as a t-shirt, with all proceeds going to the Wakan Tipi Center.
Lastly, San Jose supporters took a dig at their in-state rivals during the Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy match, with this clown-themed tifo, alluding to the problems both on and off the field down in Carson.
Now on to the less fun, but just as important stuff. Front office clashes have been a prominent, if not THE prominent narrative within MLS this season.
The most high-profile has been the ongoing saga between LA Galaxy supporters and the front office, which continues to be filled with Hollywood-esque twists and turns. The supporters’ unified #KleinOut protest garnered significant attention in both soccer and sports media on the whole, as all Galaxy supporters groups refused to enter the stadium during matches, instead protesting outside before watching at a bar. Galaxy president Chris Klein announced he would step down from his post if the Galaxy failed to reach the Western Conference finals, a lofty goal as the club currently sits in second to last place.
On April 26th, the Angel City Brigade announced they would be moving their protest inside the stadium starting with the club’s May 6th match (a decision they stressed, did not come lightly, and has been a difficult one to reach internally.) Nevertheless, the move drew criticism from other SGs, and prompted a member of another group to post ACB’s tax documents.
It appears things won’t be cooling down in LA any time soon.
In New York, Red Bull supporters have been grappling with a difficult situation with the front office ever since the club’s April 8th match against San Jose, where Red Bull player Dante Vanzeir used a racial slur in the match. Red Bull manager Gerhard Struber left Vanzier in the match, which drew intense criticism. Vanzier has been removed from team activities, while Struber has remained in charge. All supporters groups from the South Ward issued a joint statement last month and staged a protest and walkout during last month’s April 15th match, efforts which have been supported by other SGs around the league.
Ahead of this weekend’s match against the Philadelphia Union, Viking Army released a statement announcing that they would return to Section 102 to support the team.
According to Mark Fishkin, Empire Supporters Club will not have drums, flags, banners or capos, and will not conduct active support in section 101.
And in Kansas City, the Cauldron, the supporter collective under which several SGs sit, issued a clear, direct, statement to the club, demanding better performances on and off the pitch, and have asked for a counter statement.
“Your performance over the last few years has raised numerous questions and concerns, ranging from the club’s direction, engagement, matchday experience and so many more,” read a portion of the statement which was directed specifically at the front office, ownership and coaching staff.
“These are not just recent concerns;” it continued. “They have been building for more than just this season and are now at a boiling point.”
The 2- time MLS Champions currently sit in last place in the Western Conference and recorded a similarly dismal record last season.