San Diego FC announced Friday that more than 30 fans involved in the brawls at the club’s home game against the Los Angeles Galaxy last weekend have been banned indefinitely from attending any Major League Soccer events.
The bans came amid a collective review of the skirmishes, which spurred discussions about game security in a number of viral posts on social media, alongside officials with MLS, Snapdragon Stadium, the Galaxy and local law enforcement.
As of Friday, 33 people have been given lifetime bans from MLS events, although the club notes the investigation remains ongoing and further actions may be taken.
“The behavior exhibited by these individuals is entirely unacceptable and does not reflect who we are as a Club,” SDFC said in a statement announcing the disciplinary action. “We seek to create matchdays that are safe, welcoming, and respectful environments for all fans.”
Team officials added that Snapdragon Stadium officials have pledged to “enhance security protocols,” but did not provide any specifics about what this would entail.
“We want an atmosphere that is passionate, inclusive, and secure – where everyone in San Diego feels proud to come together as one community to celebrate the game we love,” the statement continued.
The brawls at the 2-1 victory for SDFC over the reigning MLS champion were not the first incident at Snapdragon Stadium that has swept the freshman team up in a degree of controversy.
After its inaugural home game on March 1, the club responded to the use of a chant frequently heard at soccer matches played by the Mexican national team that contains language considered to be homophobic, pledging to crack down on discriminatory behavior.
A few weeks later, following the 2-1 home win against Los Angeles FC on March 29, fans were seen fighting outside Snapdragon Stadium.
The latest clashes appeared to have begun in the minutes after the game ended on the second deck of the stadium, later spilling onto the lower concourse. Videos of the incident showed dozens of fans supporting both teams piling on in the initial fight.
San Diego police clad in riot gear responded to the stadium to disperse the crowd as a helicopter circled overhead. No arrests were made at the scene and one person reportedly sustained minor injuries.
Both SDFC and LA Galaxy responded to the brawls in a joint statement several hours later, condemning the confrontations as unacceptable behavior.
“We urge all fans to support the game we love with passion and respect, ensuring that every match remains a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone in attendance,” the statement read.
It went on to urge spectators to respect the MLS Fan Code of Conduct. Violations of the conduct guidelines, the teams added, can result in stadium ejections or bans.
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