It was supposed to be a day to celebrate soccer, as well as watch an entertaining soccer game. For some unfortunate Red Bulls fans, it was just another day of avoiding harrassment from Giants Stadium security.
Several members of the Red Bulls’ largest supporter’s group, the Empire Supporter’s Club, were ejected and banned from Giants Stadium after altercations with stadium security. It would be foolish to assume that the fans were completely blameless in the incidents, but the clashes with security are the latest in a history of conflict between stadium security and the Red Bulls’ most ardent supporters.
I have spent most of my life in New Jersey and have been to Giants Stadium both as a journalist and, on some occasions, as a sports fan, and it has been clear to me for some time now that there is a different attitude and approach by Giants Stadium security toward soccer fans than there is toward almost any other fan group that visits the venue. This can’t obviously be blamed on every single member of Giants Stadium security, but it can be blamed on a good number of security guards who appear more eager to get involved in confrontations with fans at soccer games than other events like football games.
The events of this weekend did little to dispel that belief. Along with having more than a dozen members of the ESC ejected from Saturday’s match, another Red Bulls fan who was ejected and banned was 2006 Red Bulls fan of the year Thomas Binkley, who was given the boot because of a verbal confrontation with a couple (it should also be noted that Binkley was seated in section 109, not 101, where most of the day’s other hostilities took place). Binkley, a fan who travels from Virginia to attend home games (he is a season-ticket holder) and is one of ESC’s leaders and road trip organizers (and who was interviewed for an ESPN.com story that same day) has now been banned from Giants Stadium by security guards who probably just saw another ‘rowdy’ soccer fan who needed to be put in line.
The mistreatment isn’t limited to Red Bulls matches. International friendlies almost always have their share of incidents and while there are clearly occasions where fans are to blame for problems because of their bad behavior, the combative and hostile attitude of some stadium security sure doesn’t help create a peaceful environment.
While the incidents at international friendlies are one thing, having constant battles between security and the team’s leading supporter’s group is unacceptable. Security at the stadium has helped turn Giants Stadium into a hostile environment for soccer fans who have supported the Red Bulls/MetroStars for the past dozen years and this can be blamed, at least in part, by the fact that the team those fans support do not own the stadium.
Think about it. If you ran the stadium, would you care much about a tenant who doesn’t make you much money, and more importantly, is leaving in a year?
So why are the Red Bulls to blame? Obviously they aren’t the main ones to blame (the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority is), but Red Bull New York is the organization that should care about its fans and should be working on the behalf of their fans to seek better treatment. Whether it be by having team liaisons sit in section 101 to help (The club says these exist, though it is unclear what they do), or by working with the NJSEA to establish a better system for fans to appeal when they are ejected and banned, the club could be doing far more than it is currently doing to help its fans deal with an environment that can only be described as hostile (as evidenced by this salutation from one security guard on the far left toward ESC members following Saturday’s match).
"I know there is a long, complicate history between the security guards at Giants stadium and the ESC," Red Bulls managing director Erik Stover said. "I think it’s unfortunate and its something that we’re going to fix when we move into the new building.
"I think the Sports Authority has a lot of rules and tends to lean towards things being black and white," Stover said. "It’s clear to me that the set of rules doesn’t fit in with everyday soccer life."
Stover acknowledged that there are issues that need to be addressed, but admitted that the Red Bulls are limited in their ability to make real chances in how the NSEA polices the crowd at Red Bulls games.
"I’m just kind of frustrated that I don’t have a simple solution," Stover said. "We’re committed to doing everything we can to make the experience as manageable as possible between now and when we move into Red Bull Park."
(Stover also stated that Red Bulls fans who were ejected and banned who feel they were unjustly ejected should contact the Red Bulls’ fan services department. The club will then look into their incidents to see if they were properly handled.)
Most Red Bulls fans can’t wait for Red Bull Park to be built next year because it promises to be a better game-day experience, and more beautiful home for their soccer team, but many are counting the days until the team moves out of Giants Stadium so that they don’t have to deal with mistreatment by stadium security, and indirectly, the very team they support.
What do you think about the game-day experience at Giants Stadium? Do you feel security is fair in its handling of soccer games and soccer fans? Have you had a bad experience with security at Giants Stadium? Share your thoughts below.
HAHA. The thought that the ESC is trying to emulate the big European fans is a joke. We are a very diverse group, with members from all over the world, and most of the members who aren’t American are from South America and Eastern Europe, so that’s where we get most of our influence from.
Quite frankly, I, along with many others, find EPL matches and fans to be boring. They are watered down events for the rich beautiful people — especially the “big four.” I am of the opinion that if you want to find real soccer fans, go to the lower league matches, go to the lesser leagues in Europe where it truly is about the club and not some superstar-gawking circus.
We’re not going anywhere…and as this sport continues to grow in this country, there are going to be more of us and fewer soccer moms filling the seats. Deal with it, or go watch minor league baseball.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA^^^^^HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
If this drives out the old “Metros” fans that’s a good thing. I’m tired of hearing old songs about a team long gone called the Metros. Why don’t you just sing Cosmos chants? That would make you more of a purist and put you at the right hand of the soccer father in the kingdom of the almighty pitch. Go watch the game at home so I can watch it with 7000 fans who actually watch the game like true football fans do. Most of ESC haven’t been overseas, they only see what happens on TV and think that every EPL, La Liga and Serie A match is mayhem and filled with riots. That was 20 years ago. Most games now are tame with separate sections for fans and zero liquor sales. ESC should just sit in the top section of the upper bowl at the next LA game. The less we have to hear from them and their “you suck asshole/big fat cunt” chants, the better.
did all the soccer moms leave yet..
If Mike V. is right, then if I get a little bored with the match, I can just turn on my radio and play deafeningly loud music, right? Or maybe, just to pass the time, my buddy and I can spend the entire second half commenting loudly (but just between ourselves, of course) about how ugly/fat/stupid-looking/foul-smelling we find the man/woman/child sitting two rows down. It’s just free speech, right? And anyone who objected would be, in Mike V.’s words, “absurdly selfish and unrealistic.”
Cursing – I see both sides of the coin, but the fact is we have to co-exist. No one side has a moral majority over the other.
I think real police supervision of the section is the only way to go. There is no confidence in the NJSEA because of them fabricating charges and recial profiling. There is no trust that those people will be fair and nuetral. Because i believe if you do in fact violate the rules then you should be held accountable.
The issue isnt that, it the justified fear that you will be arested on a whim or targeted because of the color of your skin or the language you speak.
I said it before and i’ll say it again, THIS IS MUCH MORE ABOUT NJSEA THAN BINKLEY.
There are a few things that annoy me in these comments.
One is the insinuation that you have to choose whether your legacy is going to be as a good parent or a good fan. I wasn’t aware it was mutually exclusive. My Dad brought me to sporting events and didn’t shelter me from cursing, I always thought he was a great father but I guess he actually shirked his responisibility by not trying to control everyone elses actions. I’ll have to tell him he failed me by not overprotecting me from sports.
Second is people talking about getting abused and harrased for wearing the other team’s shirt. Anytime I have been to an opposing team’s stadium I have gotten comments like “go home” “(insert team name) sucks” etc. I usually respond with an attempt at a clever rebuttal. I feel like a lot of parents over react and an innocent comment all of a sudden is assault or harrasment, just laugh it off or give a dirty look and move on.
Also 101 is seperated for a reason. We sing, we stand, we curse, it’s no secret. Calling us all drunk hooligans is a pretty big generalization. There are drunk idiots at every sporting event, just because some are in our section doesn’t make us all that way. I’ve seen drunk idiots at Yankee games and did not assume that every Yankee fan is a drunk.
Finally people have to realize that everyone isn’t going to change their behaviour so for your one night out to the stadium everything is just how you like it. It is absurdly selfish and unrealistic to expect everyone else in the world to conduct themselves in the mannor you deem fit. Also to all the parents, by the end of elementary school cursing was the norm, your kids aren’t as sheltered as you’d like to think. In addition your kids aren’t idiots unable to recognize poor behaviour. I know when I was young at a stadium and saw a drunk guy picking fights I didn’t go out get drunk and fight the next day, or go around shooting everything in sight after I played duckhunt. Give your kids more credit.
Yankiboy’s right on the mark. If I’m guilty of “overprotecting” my kids because I don’t let them hear or watch profanity, so be it. But membership in a supporters club or being a season-ticket holder doesn’t give you a license to disregard the reasonable, respectfully voiced feelings of the rest of the world. Perhaps the long-term solution (besides leaving the Swamp and its poorly trained security force) is the “separate sections for the hard-core fans” idea already floated by many on this thread. As for me, I want to be able to go to a game and cheer, boo, and holler, but I don’t want any part of a “passion” that requires profanity, abuse, and worse to prove you’re a “real” fan.
No one has touched on the problem that prevails all sports. Sports are expensive. They’re corporate. They’re not for the blue collar fan anymore. They’ve been co-opted by corporate America. This is what happened in the UK. The blue collar fan was pushed out in favor of families/suits and now it’s too expensive to even afford a ticket to a Chelsea match. The same thing will happen at RB Park just like it’s happening in the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL. They’ll let in ESC for the first two seasons then hike prices and stick them up in a section where they’re invisible. It will become family friendly and beer sales will be cutoff. All in the name of a “New World Order.” C’mon people, the revolution has got to start somewhere and it shouldn’t be over a pissing match regarding a dork named Binkey and some family. Take it to the streets. Overthrow the racist state known as the NJSEA. Revolution now.
This doesn’t happen at RFK. Giants Stadium staff needs an attitude adjustment.
I guess I am both shocked and saddened by a majority of what I read regarding NJSEA employees “professionalism”. There was a quote from an interview Ives did where he stated there is no such thing as bad publicity for the MLS.
I have to say if there is a riot at the DC game that we will have officially hit “bad publicity”. Things are definitely at a tipping point. I really hope someone at NYRB is aware of how serious this situation is and they just spend the money to have REAL POLICE doing security for the remainder of the season/tenure at Giants stadium.
The absolute last thing this country/MLS needs right now is a soccer riot.
And Johnny G, f**k off. It’s a passionate game and sometimes in this world you might have to hear or see something you don’t like. Get out of the bubble and step into the real world. Or stay home. I don’t give a f**k either way.
not to be a naysayer, but just because you get your own stadium does not mean your problems end there… the real crime here in Columbus is that CSC is more focused on throwing out fans who throw streamers at the pitch and open umbrellas, than they are on the movements of some thuggish looking West Ham supporters who traipse into the home team’s support section looking for a fight, and tossing beer all over our fans. So it IS correct to call out security as a problem, and not just at “rented” stadiums. The problem is that these guys seem to not be able to distinguish soccer games from Ozzfest, and act equally violent at both. Every stadium should have to have police as security, as they receive true training on handling situations in a calm and rational manner.
I have sat in every section of Giant Stadium, including 101 (for a season). I personally have never had a problem with security, although, I did notice they are more active in 101. I figured this was due to the enthusiasm that is shown in that section (as they try and keep things acceptable and under control). I had to move my seats from there because a. I wanted to watch the game and not sing and chant and dance all game (my choice) b. it was a little TOO colorful for me to take my daughter and nephews to the game (ages 5-15). I strongly feel that 101 has its place and that it should be separate from the rest of the crowd (root how you like). I love how they support the team but that is not how I choose to. I never saw security or the fans abuse or mistreat anyone but I could see how without level heads and respect for each other it could easily escalate any situation. The Galaxy game is tough becasue it is not treated like a regular season game (it is), it is a showcase game for the league and a higher profile. Fans should understand this and realize that games like this will make the league stronger and we will have our teams around to root for. I have met Binks and for sure, he doesn’t deserve a lifetime ban. mahalo.
To RBNation:
Your isolated incident of one individual does not change what has occured between Section 101 and NJSEA Security.
The targeted selection of certain people in Section 101 because of their skin color/ethnic makeup is disgusting and needs to be resolved ASAP.
Besides, the reinstatement of those that were banished without just cause, targeted selection is a major concern.
Im sure that Tom provoked this by using bad language. Why do you need to curse when ther are little kids sitting next to you? My mom was there with me and i even heard it. She was going to complain but the other guy and his wife did first. Shame on you mr binkley.
wow I hate to quote a basketball player on a soccer blog but the great Charles Barkley once said “Im not a role model, parents should be role models.” I find it ridiculous that people are even complaining about foul language. As a parent, it is your responsibility to teach your kid right from wrong and if you feel certain language is wrong, you tell your kids. In the future, it is a good idea for a family friendly section, but for the time being, you teach your kids the difference between right and wrong.
Posted by:J | July 21, 2008 at 09:13 PM
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@ J and John 10:59 and for the rest of my soccer loving brethren (coz we are all in this together) here who disagree.
It’s really easy to paint with a wide brush. I’m not being defensive but I just want to let you guys know that some of us are still teaching our kids our values and we are raising our kids. She already has learned a word that I don’t use and I have been working with her so that she understands that it is not acceptable in our home or outside of our home.
For some of us, there is no more important job than being a parent and we go at it 100%. You can call it a ECS, RBN, Screaming Eagles or Barra Brava or whatever supporters group you want to name sort of type of commitment and enthusiasm for parenting. I never shirk on my responsibilty because if I don’t make it home or a game one day, my real legacy is going to be what sort of father was I, not “he was a great DC United/Puerto Rico Islanders/Crystal Palace Baltimore fan. That dude really loved his teams” — though I would like for those accolades to be #2 just in case I buy the farm and anyone reading this bothers to remember me :).
So I get what some you guys are saying. I
really do. I’m my daughter’s #1 role model. I’ve got that. I always keep it in mind. And I mean always. I also want her to share the love of sport and sportsmanship (I’ve literally talked sports to her since she was in the womb).
Ok-some people are going to be very suspicious and believe that I just made this up. They are going to think that it is all for dramatic effect:
My wife, calls me in the middle of typing the last paragraph and recounts to me how my 3 year old daughter was clapping and singing a (G-rated) DC United chant from the back seat all the way to the daycare and talking about meeting “Brian, (Rowland) the portero” (Crystal Palace Baltimore USL2). Wants to know when I can take her to another game.
I’m not asking anyone to raise my kid. That is my job. I’m just trying to share the other point of view. You guys pay your money. I pay mine. The seperate sections seems like a good compromise and a good goal to me. I will continue to avoid the sections where I can anticipate behavior that I don’t want to expose my child to. Mutual respect doesn’t mean that we have to agree.
That’s all the space here that personally want to kill on the language thing.
I’d much rather focus holding “professional” people to professional standards.
Mastershake and some of the others here have an excellent point when they say that we don’t want any riots. Security staff have to held to a higher standard. We are paying customers and even if these were free events (which they are not), security staff would still need to be held to a higher standard than they are in many in many places. There are a lot of great, hardworking security staff but the belligerent, instigating trouble-seeking gang-like thugs have got to be terminated and replaced.
Does it take a riot or a serious injury or loss of life to get these issues the attention that they deserve? Do things really have to go there?
Are the venues and companies that business “stupid”? Some screening, training and management on the front end can help avoid the potential bad publicity, a huge civil settlements and criminal charges even if some of them appear to really seem to not value the health and well-being of their patrons.
lets all drop the notion that Del Piero would somehow end up in the MLS… while i would truely enjoy that, its not going to happen…. he’s even noted that he’s retiring with Juventus…
as for the swearing, im glad to see that im not the only one who thinks that fans should not have to censor themselves at a sporting event….
places to censor yourself: church, school functions, little league etc…
places you shouldnt have to censor yourself: sporting events, concerts, bars etc..
This happened last year and no one said a thing except me. First off, ESC are good for the team but many are total assholes who use the match as an excuse to get wasted. Second, the Red Bull organization should have left tarps over the two sections between 101 so that no parents would be near that section. You can’t ask ESC to change their ways for 1 game and the Red Bull corporation should know that. It would have created a lot of less tension and problems. I couldn’t watch the game due to all the tussling and fighting going on in 101 and I’m two sections away. Last year, a stupid drunk Red Bull supporter (sorry, Metro) got into a fight on the bus back to Port Authority with a bunch of people in Beckham jerseys just because they didn’t “support” his team. He was more happy when the stadium was empty than full. When I proceeded to tell him he could jerk off by himself at the next game because only 8,000 fans would see him he had to show he was a “pure” soccer fan and started swinging at me. Now please understand, I’ve been to every sporting event under the sun and for the first time ever I got into fisticuffs at a soccer match due to a Metro supporter. He got a beat down right in Port Authority when the bus returned actually telling me to stop as I punched and kicked him until he was bloody(my adrenaline kicked in and he was pretty drunk). So for ESC fans, you ask for some of this. You want all the fervor, passion and pride that comes with the game yet you cannot stand the physical torment that comes with having to back up your drunk words. If you’re going to be drunk, or act all boastful and proud because you’re a “true” fan, then you deserve what you get when other fans decide to confront your physical aggression.
ooops thats tranquilo…im putting a call out for calm! People cant we all just get along? lol. Buena Suerte!
okay…phew! Dear JCO, JPA and co., Please continue to score some lovely goals, and beat DC so the crowd is filled with peace and happiness! Thanks in advance. Your top Miami Colombian/ Italian fan, Martika p.s. tranquillo, no pressure!
I agree that the DC game will probably erupt like nothing the US has ever seen before. People are going to go tothe stadium looking for a fight. If you treat people like criminals long enough…
People have wnated to soccer to grow in the country for a long time. Did any of you think we would be different from the rest of the world? There will always be violence with soccer.
As for GS security…
My friend, a girl who has never once been to a game before and certianly did nothing but stand and cheer, got a nice elbow in the face by one of the NJSEA goons on saturday. Do you think she will ever return for a game? I dont.
Ives, thanks so much for giving this some attention.
Hey I dont want it to happen. I was saying though that it is likely and i am at every game and too miss the next one, with all the tension, plus its against dc too, is bad timing
NO ONE wants a historic/ tragic day in MLS! Thats why down here the Sec. goes to alert the police and then ONLY the police in riot gear go rapidly in and out of the crowd, with or without the dog. End of story, simple to enforce this as an immediate league wide standard. C*mon, the only historic day should be Becks and Landy vs JPA and Henry, Crespo or Del Piero in the final!
Everyone in the section was really well behaved because people love the team and the group and do not want to be banned for life. But now that some of our biggest leaders, the latino guys, got banned for nothing, people feel their time is short and really do not care if they will be banned with the coming of RBP. If Red Bull/NJSEA/MLS does not take care of this before the DC game the chances of an all out riot like nothing seen in MLS before are very high! Security hates ESC and ESC hates them for taking away their leaders and friends for TRYING TO CALM THINGS DOWN. Look at the videos thats all they did. I will be away for the next game but am kinda wishing I could be there because of the high chance of such a historic/tragic day for MLS.
I second that, you guys were impressively very well behaved…that would have been a nasty all out war here in Miami. p.s. Just kidding on the Becks, love that hes here in MLS, and hopefully other teams will pony up the cash for the Del Piero, Henry, Ronaldinho, Crespo, *s of the world!
Same old story for years…..throwing fans out for no good reason. Happen to my crew in 2001 because confetti hit a NJSEA guy and somebody laughed. Half of that crew never came back for another game. And just like others….emails/letters never answered….
Another great NJSEA story from last year. ESC was walking back to Lot 16 and the 1,000 or so TFC fans were walking towards us to get back to their lot. We tried to stay inside the stadium and walk with the stadium fence between the two groups to avoid any altercations but Security forced us out the nearest exit where both groups met up and I was amazed that a fight did not occur out of it.
These people are not smart…….if they were, they would have scored higher on the Civil Service Exam and have become COPS like they wanted. Instead they get to play “Cops” one or two weekends a month.
Exactly MikeK. MLS should be very worried.
Unfortunately when situations like this have happened in the past, the FO talks to NJSEA and ESC (seperately), and they say that they have reached an understanding and everything will be fine for a few games.
Then something will erupt again. History repeats itself.
In hindsight, security should not have gone into 101 to pull out a crowd surfer. Yes it was against the rules, but no one was in harms way.
Once 8-10 security guards force their way into the section, dozens of people are in harms way, and innocent people are abused and banned.
I saw the videos, and it’s a miracle no one took a swing at anyone in there. The NJSEA goons were totally surrounded, and if even 1 goon, or fan, [more likely goo] took a swing at someone, all hell would’ve broken lose, by the looks of it.
They don’t know what they’re doing.
YES, the securtiy sucks at Giants stadium, but EVERYTHING else sucks as well. Concessions, escalators not operating, parking, you name it. My question is whether they can preclude the Galaxy game next year from taking place there. It would do justice for them to have it at Red Bull Park once it opens late in the season. Sure, not as many “soccer fans” could see the golden Beckham live, but it would go a long way toward selling season tickets for RBNY.
PS. If that security guy in the picture still has a job……OH MY GOD!
I think we all can agree the dude should have said *Sorry to swear lady*, and had another beer! He was right about Becks, highly paid gorgeous underwear model he is, soccer player he isnt, lol! But the ban for life, how stupid! The real issue is that you need to go in with police force quickly, and get right back out with the ejected dude, like a covert CIA mission. You dont provoke by staying in the crowd, thats unacceptable, and MLS better wake up pronto due to this racist misuse of authority
Last season, my boyfriend was detained by stadium security after exercising his First Amendment right of taking a picture of security mishandling an incident in 101. For most of the second half of the game he was held in the bowels of stadium. He kept asking if he had done anything illegal and they were not able to answer him. Finally, the supervisor of the holding area capitulated and said no, and they had to let him go. When we left the stadium at the end of the game, we spoke with a Red Bull rep who told us to write letters. We reported the incident to Red Bull as well as the NJSEA, but have yet to receive any form of response.
Thank you for getting the word out and highlighting the plight of the fifth-class citizens of Giants Stadium.
Are some of you people really that selfish?
________
Who is being selfish in this discussion. You choose one way to raise your kids, I choose another. In your method, large numbers of grown adults and kids have to change their behavior to meet your requirements. On the other hand in my method, you have to learn a little flexibility and talk with your kids about how those words aren’t appropriate. Rather than simply saying, ‘we don’t say that’ you can have a rich discussion about values.
Sorry to keep on about the language but this is my pet peeve of an issue.
In terms of the other issue, I hope that someone does something about the security goons who get their thrills from beating and showing whose boss to non-Caucasians
This whole cursing thing is not the heart of this discussion, we can discuss parenting somewhere else. Whether Binks was at fault or not, I still dont think it was grounds for a LIFETIME BAN. Read that again LIFETIME, not a couple of games…is that really the right punishment for a couple of curses? even if they were not appropriate?
How about NJSEA behaviour in the lot after the game, how about NJSEA throwing racial slurs at supporters, instigating fights, and recklessly raiding the section.
This incident was not a 5 minute thing, it lasted ALL OF halftime AND a few minutes into the 2nd half. It was literally a punch away from a complete riot.
The more I read the more I’m confounded by the opinion of those who seemingly have no regard for those parents who wish to keep their children a little sheltered from certain language. Don’t get me wrong, if the situation calls for it I’ve been known to let the expletives fly (Kramer), but if I were ever asked to tone down my language I’m not so selfish as to begrudge the person asking.
Do we all have such a lack of a sufficient way to express ourselves that we can’t honor the request of a parent who wishes for their kid not to be exposed to certain language, for a matter of 90 minutes (+/-)? Are some of you people really that selfish?
Bob @ 7:54
Really? Binks denied what he did? Really? How do you expect people to believe YOU when YOU are the one telling lies from the get-go. I’m gonna say this out of 100% love of America – It is America’s fault that we are the 23th happiest nation in the world, why we are made fun of by the world, as most Americans are SO patriotic and think we are the best and *superstars* of this world. IT’S BECAUSE SOCCER IS NOT MAINSTREAM HERE! I don’t know how to explain it now, but in the future, you watch, you will be hearing something about this…and it’s gonna be from me.
And Ives, is this the most comments ever on one story? I remember the columbus incident had quite a few but 164 comments is pretty good…
I haven’t traveled to NY (from DC) but have generally heard bad things about security up there. I don’t know enough to say if there’s a problem w/ Red Bulls fans but clearly there’s a problem w/ security from all I can gather. Sucks for everyone, that’s sure no way to boost the mediocre attendance.
I find this whole discussion fascinating. My family sits in the supporter section and we know full well what we’re getting into. My wife and I talked about this at dinner tonight and decided that if our 14 year old is going to experiment with language, a soccer game is not a bad place to do it. I have no problem at all with cursing in front of kids at the games. In fact my daughter says somethings that we talk about later.
While some of you choose to protect your kids, I can understand that if your kids are young. But sorry if they are over 10, I think you are naive, if you think your kids don’t know bad words.
The sad and frustrating part about all this is that this one issue can be taken care of in a matter of weeks.
The MLS…Majorly Lacking Sense
The sad and frustrating part about all this is that this one issue can be taken care of in a matter of weeks.
The MLS…Majorly Lacking Sense
“I know there is a long, complicate history between the security guards at Giants stadium and the ESC,” Red Bulls managing director Erik Stover said. “I think it’s unfortunate and its something that we’re going to fix when we move into the new building.
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They better fix it now before something tragic happens. People over at Metrofanatic were talking about how a full scale riot was narrowly avoided.
That’s right, they are using the word riot.
MLS can’t survive a riot. You better fix things and fast. They’re not going to get better by ignoring them and hoping we’ll hold back on our passion until RBP opens.
Watch the videos Stover! Security had no reason to hang out in the section and get everybody’s blood boiling. They came up to get one supporter, then hung around to see who else they could get.
The tape of the altercation in the parking lot was handled properly. The state trooper told security to keep away from the supporters.
Stover is a fool if he says things can’t change, and should lose his job. I can’t say I’m looking forward to having him in charge as he tries to magically fix security issues when we move into Red Bull Park.
I can say that when I went to US-Argentina (the only time I’ve been to the Meadowlands since I live in Atlanta) my friend and I walked around the entire stadium looking for souvineirs (sp?) for our younger brothers. The 60% of the stadium labeled as “American Section” had very few security detail, the other 40% labeled as the “Argentine Section” was crawling with them. I don’t know exactly who did what, but I hope for soccer fans around the area that this gets taken care of swiftly and correctly.
wow I hate to quote a basketball player on a soccer blog but the great Charles Barkley once said “Im not a role model, parents should be role models.” I find it ridiculous that people are even complaining about foul language. As a parent, it is your responsibility to teach your kid right from wrong and if you feel certain language is wrong, you tell your kids. In the future, it is a good idea for a family friendly section, but for the time being, you teach your kids the difference between right and wrong.
P.S. We were the 1st SSS of 25k max but they allowed standing room only, where I was. They ejected all around me, but not me, and I did nothing different but am Italian Irish. The Fusion to their credit did take immediate steps, and eventually played in Miami where it works! The fans jump, cheer, and beat drums for about 70 percent of Orange Bowl, and had areas seperated by rails/fences for family area, 30 percent. It was perfect, that way nobody gets hurt, physically or emotionally, lol.
Wow Ives, way to stir the pot. In the Orange Bowl, may it rest in peace, and Joe Robbie we have police in full riot gear with german shepards, lining the field. Never a problem, with Colombia vs Brasil, Costa Rica vs El Salvador, 70K sell outs. However with ONLY Sec. at Fusion Opening Day 27k in Ft. Laud. they threw out Haitans, Jamaicans, then Hispanics, on a sliding scale of color/racism. They created *Afusionados* area standing only behind goals but the damage was done, never sold out again!
Scott,
Yeah, i dont mean it to come off as a segregation issue, but i think every fan should have an available choice in the type of envirnment they sit in. Just as many types of fans dont want to sit next a bucnh of kids and tone it down, several people dont want to sit next to some drunken a-hole either.
Truth is we need all these fans, so why not try to make certain sections of RBP accomidating for each set of fans. ESC does this for the supporters end, why shouldnt other fans that dont want to be next to that have a section free from some of the thingsthey are concerned about.
As for the NJSEA situation, i foresee really bad things down the road if we cant get them removed from 101 and replaced with uniformed NJ police officers. I’d much rather have a figure that is bound by the law and trained to respond to crowds and someone people would trust more to be fair than a yellow goon how has a histroy of making up stroies in the ban room, making racial profiling actions, and who have no oversight for thier actions.
I can say that I was very surprised at the hostile and confrontational attitude of the security at the stadium when we travelled there last summer for an away game with about 300 supporters from Toronto. It seemed as though the security were almost itching for a confrontation from anyone so they could start throwing people out.
I tried to be friendly with them as we are with our home stadium security and the response I received was a thinly veiled threat.
I’m not surprised they treat the home fans this way and I’m sure they’re looking forward to getting into their own stadium.
M. at 7:52 and 7:54PM.
The rest of your description is his account; he didn’t claim that all he said was that Beckham sucks… Binks is a good guy.
Let’s move beyond this single issue and focus on all the issues that have been raised including the need to diffuse situations.
onionsack @ 6:45PM is summing up key issues so no need to repeat them here. NJSEA should be attempting to diffuse situations and give warnings whenever possible.
One issue to add is that there are Giants stadium rules that should be changed for Red Bull Park because sometimes NJSEA is just enforcing these arcane rules that stiffle tifo and fan support for the Red Bulls.
A few other thoughts…
For those who don’t know Tom Binkley, he’s a great guy and passionate supporter of the club.
In the section where we sit, we are trying to create an environment that is both passionate and where we try to watch our language. I’m not trying to overly shelter my kids — I still tell them how they should conduct themselves regardless of what they hear others say — but I’m trying to demonstrate that you can be a passionate fan and not swear; that said, I’m 100% behind ESC as a supporters group and realize they choose a different path.