Landon Donovan’s team left the field after a race

Of: Simon Svensson-Parenti

Published: October 02, 2020 at 11:15 am

He leads 3-1 in pursuit of a playoff berth.

Then San Diego Loyal walked off the field in protest after a player was called homophobic slurs.

– This doesn’t belong here. We have to get this out of soccer, says coach and legend Landon Donovan.

Photo: Gregory Bull / TT NEWS AGENCY

Landon Donovan currently coaches the San Diego Loyals at the USL.

In the eighth minute of injury time in the first half, San Diego Loyals Collin Martin, for no apparent reason, received a red card in the game against Phoenix Rising in the USL (league during MLS).

Martin, who is openly gay, had been called homophobic slurs by Phoenix player Junior Flemmings.

When he wanted to draw the referee’s attention to the incident, he was misinterpreted and the referee showed Martin the red card.

Withdrew the red card

A riot broke out and the coach of San Diego, the most outstanding football player in American history, Landon Donovan had to intervene. Together with his players, he tried to explain what had really happened.

The referee realized his mistake, withdrew Martin’s red card and blew for the half-time break.

But the discussions about homophobic name calling continued. Most of all, an increasingly heated argument between Donovan and rival coach Rick Schantz.

– Come on, don’t make a scene now. How long have you played? This is football, says Schantz with a clear indication that it is part of the sport.

“You are better than that”

– Rick, you look better this way. This does not belong here. We have to get this out of football, says Donovan and appeals to the referee for Flemmings to get a red card:

– If you don’t teach him, we won’t continue playing.

No red card was dealt and, in protest, the San Diego players chose to leave the field along with Donovan (who in turn received a red card in connection with the riot).

“We promised to act”

The game, which San Diego also led 3-1 in the playoff pursuit, does not yet have an official result, but the incident is under scrutiny by the league.

As recently as last week, another player in San Diego was subjected to racist attacks during a game. So the game was played ready. Something Donovan regrets afterwards.

– Our only regret about that party is that we did not act even then. We should have done something. So we promised ourselves that we would no longer tolerate racism, homophobic slurs, or other things that don’t belong in football, says the legend in a post-game Phoenix interview.

After the action, Donovan is now getting acclaimed on social media.

“Shout out to Landon Donovan and San Diego Loyal for refusing to accept racism and homophobia. Here’s how you deal with it. Do you see something? Do something. Period. I need more energy like this. Very proud of Landon and the organization.”, among others, female star Megan Rapinoe tweets.

Published: October 02, 2020 at 11:15 am

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