Soccer and racism just can’t seem to be separated no matter the country or level of play. The most recent incident occurred at a high school game in Tennessee.
During their May 22nd soccer match, Martin Luther King Magnet High School officials complained that fans from Page High School hurled racist and anti-Semitic jeers and slurs at their players. They sent the complaint to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA).
The letter was signed by Marquis Churchwell, MLK’s assistant principal and athletic director. It detailed the abuse heard by parents and coaches who were in attendance at that state championship tournament qualifying match.
“There were at least five MLK students that were personally targeted by the Page fans,” wrote Churchwell in the complaint. “This unruly and disgraceful act created a hostile and unsafe athletic environment for our students and spectators.”
It appears that this has happened before. The TSSAA told the Tennessean these types of complaints are “not common at all.”
According to the complaint, the venom included taunts like “Did they get their VISAs?”, “Go back to your own country” and anti-Semitic jeers aimed at Jewish players.
The TSSAA is investigating the incident. Their Assistant Executive Director, Matthew Gillespie, stated that they have contacted Page High School about the ugly event.
“We will continue to communicate with them until we come to a conclusion regarding the situation,” wrote Gillespie in an email to The Tennessean.
For parents of MLK student-athletes, talk is one thing, but they want action. Specifically against the fans from Page who participated in the jeering.
“I just think it was so extreme that [Page] should issue a public apology to these boys who ended their season in a way that is really sad, unfortunate and uncalled for,” said MLK parent Tiffany Israel said. “I just think, as parents, we need to stand up for our boys.”
According to MLK coach James Campbell, Page’s soccer coach, Nathan Clapp, “admonished his fans vehemently” for their actions. Page’s administration also issued an apology for the incident and pledged to cooperate with the TSSAA in the investigation.
“We do not want to penalize the team; however, a school’s fans should be held accountable,” wrote parents in a statement included in MLK’s complaint. “We need to know that the school and the district will not tolerate this behavior from its fans and that our players will be protected in the future.”
In the aftermath, Page won 2-0 and moved on to the state tournament. MLK’s season ended and the pain of the loss was exacerbated by the sting of racism and anti-Semitism.
No word as of yet about whether any punishment will be levied against Page or its fans. But it’s clear that soccer remains plagued by ignorance and racism.
