SD Team Stands Up to Slurs
San Diego Team Stands Up to Slurs
The San Diego Loyal SC have gained recognition as a team that stands for equality for all players and all peoples. The team recently forfeited two games in protest against racist and homophobic slurs hurled at team members during the course of play. These two forfeitures led to the team sacrificing any chance of making it to the championships.
On September 23, 2020 a racist slur was used against Loyal player Elijah Martin by LA Galaxy II player Omar Ontiveros. When this occurred, the officials and opposing coach did nothing. Loyal coaches were not aware the incident had happened until after the game was over. The LA Galaxy II later announced that it has “mutually agreed to part ways with” Ontiveros (City News Service, 2020 September 26). When they learned what had occurred, they forfeited the match - sacrificing a standings point. In a statement the team said that they wished they would have left the pitch instead of continuing the match (Torgerson, 2020 October 1). Loyal Chairman Andrew Vassilaidis in reference to this decision said that the team didn’t “want to recognize being part of a match where these types of actions take place” (City News Service, 2020 September 26).
Just one week later, in a game against Phoenix Rising FC, another player on the Loyal team was verbally accosted. This time openly gay player Collin Martin was called a homophobic slur by Phoenix player Junior Flemmings. Just as had happened the week prior, officials and the opposing team did nothing about this incident. In fact, Phoenix head coach Rick Schantz can be heard on the game’s broadcast justifying the action of his player, telling Loyal head coach Landon Donovan that “they’re competing” (Torgerson, 2020 October 1).
In a statement released on his Twitter, Martin explains that Flemmings called him a slur that can be equated with the F-word. After Martin approached the official and his coach about the situation, he states that Flemmings “came over and told me that he knew of my ‘situation’ … and that he didn’t call me a slur. At this point it is clear to me that he was backtracking and attempting to deny what he said. Why would he say that slur to me if he knew I was gay?” (ESPN, 2020 October 1). Flemmings also issued a statement via his now-deleted Twitter account, denying the accusation and claiming that he “[stood] in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ movement” (City News Service, 2020 October 6).
Following an investigation from the USL Championship, the governing body for the league, Flemmings was suspended for six games. This suspension covers the rest of the championship season. He was also fined an undisclosed amount (Self, 2020 October 6). In addition to these actions from USl Championship, Phoenix Rising FC has placed Flemmings on administrative leave for the remainder of his contract (City News Service, 2020 October 6).
In a press conference, Loyal president Warren Smith stated that he wanted to see teams participate in the penalties that result from these types of actions. While individual players were disciplined by the league in response to their use of racist and homophobic slurs, their teams didn’t suffer at all in the standings. Warren believes that if teams have to participate in the penalties they will “take it seriously” (Stone, 2020 October 10). Donovan also criticized the idea - put forth by Phoenix’s coach at the time of the incident - that racist or homophobic language is “just words … just competition.” Donovan recognizes that words can lead to violence and that what you say can shape how you behave and what you believe. He said what we should be focusing on here is not how many games should a player be suspended for, but rather how can we change a player’s behavior (Stone, 2020 October 10).
The Loyal are focusing on just that in the off-season. They have plans to approach USL Championship to discuss league protocols and where improvements can be made (Stone, 2020 October 10). In the meantime, SD Loyal has approached both LA Galaxy II and Phoenix Rising FC about working together to develop “educational programs where players, staff and supporters will meet to share their backgrounds and life experiences” to “help foster a greater sense of understanding and empathy towards one another” (City News Service, 2020 October 6). All league members will also undergo sensitivity training before the start of the next season.
By sacrificing their chance at the championships, the San Diego Loyal sent a message loud and clear: they will speak, and they will act.
References:
City News Service. (2020, September 26). Team parts ways with player who used racial slur to
San Diego Loyal SC player. KPBS. Retrieved on October 23, 2020 from https://www.kpbs.org/news/2020/sep/26/san-diego-loyal-sc-forfeits-point-racial-slur/
City News Service. (2020, October 6). USL suspends player for alleged slur directed at San
Diego Loyal SC’s Martin. Fox 5 San Diego. Retrieved on October 23, 2020 from https://fox5sandiego.com/sports/usl-suspends-player-for-alleged-slur-directed-at-san-diego-loyal-scs-martin/
ESPN. (2020, October 1). USL’s San Diego Loyal forfeit in protest, alleging anit-gay slur. ESPN.
Retrieved on October 23, 2020 from https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/30013159/usl-san-diego-loyal-forfeit-protest-alleging-anti-gay-slur
Self, Zac. (2020, October 6). Phoenix Rising FC forward suspended after use of homophobic
slur against San Diego Loyal SC player. ABC 10 News San Diego. Retrieved on October 23, 2020 from https://www.10news.com/sports/sports-news/phoenix-rising-fc-forward-after-use-of-homophobic-slur-against-san-diego-loyal-sc-player
Stone, Chris. (2020, October 10). Punish teams for bigotry, not just players, SD Loyal brass
urge in 2020 review. Times of San Diego. Retrieved on October 23, 2020 from https://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2020/10/10/punish-teams-for-bigotry-not-just-players-sd-loyal-brass-urge-in-2020-review/
Togerson, Derek. (2020, October 1). ‘All we’re doing is what we should be doing’: Loyal SC o
forfeits to fight injustice. NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved on October 23, 2020 from https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/loyal-sc-on-forfeits-to-fight-injustice-all-were-doing-is-what-we-should-be-doing/2416440/