MLS players kneeling in front of the national anthem were met with “a smattering of anger” from fans during a game between FC Dallas and Nashville SC on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.
After the game, Reggie Cannon, a Dallas defender, did not hold back his anger against the fans who decided to boo.
“I think it was disgusting. I think it was absolutely disgusting,” Cannon said after the game. “You have fans cheering for people who take a stand for what they believe in. Millions of other people support this cause, and we have discussed with each other team and the league what we will do, and we have fans booing us into ours. own stadium. How shameful is that? Honestly, for lack of a better word, it pissed me off … You can not even have the support of your own fans in your own stadium. It baffling me. “
MLS has allowed some fans to return to stadiums to watch games, based on local city ordinances. According to the AP, Frisco, TX allowed just 5,000 fans to watch, but less than showed up at the game.
Cannon said the anger hurt even more, as it was the first time FC Dallas had the chance to play since March. They cancel the MLS ‘Return to Play tournament in Florida after 10 players tested positive for COVID-19.
“As a team, we strive to provide the best possible product in that field, and these last six months have been absolute hell for us,” Cannon said. “Absolute hell, because we had to watch other people play football, and we’re just sitting at home, unfortunately, contracting COVID … And the opportunity presented itself to play tonight and unfortunately we’re crazy– and overreacting to not the win– but I was pissed. Everyone around me was pissed.
“Ryan Hollingshead, the first thing he said to me after we got up from the knee, he said ‘I’m sorry.’ I’m sorry for our fans because we had someone sing ‘USA’ when they do not understand what throat means, they do not understand why we kneel.They can not see the reason, they just think we are the ignorant and it’s incredibly frustrating.I’m sorry it has this tone, but you have to call it for something it is.
‘I knew even when we decided to kneel, I knew it was going to happen. That should tell you something, that I knew we would have some negative pushback from a uniform response about what was happening. That’s the problem. “
The national anthem was not played in MLS’s Return to Play tournament because there were no fans in the stands, however MLS says all players still took a pinch in solidarity before starting each game. MLS has also explained they will continue to pinch players during the national anthem if they choose.
According to MLS, Cannon said the uniformed knee will go through his team, whether fans like it or not.
“It hurts me because I love our fans. I love this club and I want to see the support the league has given us that everyone has given us from our fans,” Cannon said. “I love the people who came out last night, but as soon as I heard that boo I tried to play and I knew what to expect. We will take it one day at a time and again we are united in this answer and everyone stands together, black, white, orange, everyone stands together here. “
Players, coaches and even referees across almost every sport around the world have come together with some view against racial inequality, whether it is kneeling, observing a moment of silence, or wearing jackets with special messages.
Protests and displays of solidarity began in earnest after video captured the police who killed George Floyd while he was being seized.
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