ENDING THE BAN

Tonight, Major League Soccer announced that it will revisit its ban on “political language and behavior” over the coming offseason. It will do so with the input of independent supporters groups and “a cross-section of diversity and inclusion experts.” It also announced, effective immediately, an end to the ban on the Iron Front.

MLS did not reach these conclusions easily, nor by the conscience of its leadership. It did so after walk-outs, boycotts, protest songs, protest flags, deafening silence, bad publicity, and a willingness of many of its most passionate fans to be ejected and banned from games. Many independent supporters groups coordinated and supported these actions— among them Timbers Army, Rose City Riveters, Emerald City Supporters, Gorilla FC, the Dark Clouds, Mill City Ultras, True North Elite, Dark Glitterati, Resurgence, The Cauldron, and many more. This change could not have happened without them.

Notably silent were the teams themselves, including Minnesota United. On September 13th, we called on our team to support our efforts to end the ban publicly, and called for a boycott on all in-stadium purchases until it did. The ban has been lifted, the rules will be revisited, and so our boycott is over.

Should Minnesota United find itself caught between a question of conscience and MLS— or sponsors or politicians for that matter— we encourage it to be as brave as its supporters.

See you in the stands.