Bruce Arena issued the following statement regarding the incident that occurred at halftime of the Galaxy’s 2-2 draw with AC Milan on Sunday night at The Home Depot Center.
“We regret the incident that happened at the end of the first half of last night’s friendly at The Home Depot Center. While it is important that our fans remain free to voice their opinions, they must do so in an appropriate manner. We appreciate our players and fans passion for the team and the game, but we all must aim to hold ourselves to higher standards.
We have a very good relationship with the LA Riot Squad and have already reached out to them to set up a meeting to discuss moving forward together in a positive direction. In addition, the LA Riot Squad has informed us that they have issued a lifetime ban to the fan that went onto the field of play.
We want to move in a positive direction as an organization, and ask our fans to support our players and our club as we look to return to the playoffs for the first time in three years. We need the support of our fans to continue providing an amazing home environment at The Home Depot Center as we look to reach our shared goal of qualifying for the playoffs.”
With that said, enjoy a look back at all the goals from the game and let us know which one you think stood out as the pick of the litter.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Galaxy Issue Statement
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40 comments:
Landon to Gordo...a goal in any league. Omar started it with a great clearance. I loved the way LD ran the length of the pitch before the Milan players knew what hit them. Great stuff from the captain.
As for your statement, it is worthless until a quote is attached from Beckham apologizing for initiating the confrontation with the fan and demanding he "come down here" to fight.
An AEG employee challenged a fan to a fight. Where is the apology for that?
how can i group that has no organized structure or membership issue a lifetime ban?
The behavior of some of the LA Riot Squad members yesterday in my opinion was disgraceful, and there was absolutely NO justification for it. Nothing against Landon but he's been off on loan several times, and if what the press has reported is true, has expressed an interest in leaving the team too. So what's up with the double standard? The hypocrisy of it all is an even bigger disgrace.
i was sitting right next to the riot squad during the ac milan friendly. they are usually cool to sit next to but this time they were just annoying. they need to chill on the personal harassment comments and to keep in mind they had little kids covering their ears because of all the swearing. all for freedom of speech but even more for common decency.
it was so funny when becks took the corner and fed it to bj for the tying goal. all the boos turned into cheers and the riot squad got undoubtedly OWNED.
im not saying im a fan of the guy but his game is still awesome.
I believe it was Beckham that ran the length and then placed the ball perfectly to Donovan who un selfishly passed to Gordon.
My favorite was the corner to Jordan. That kid will do whatever it takes to get the score. Great job, great game. I have been at all but 1 pf the friendlys and this is right up there with the best!!!!
Soviet style history. Erase anyone you don't like. Did Beckham's run and inch-perfect cross to Donovan have nothing to do with the play?
Tough choice. Everyone gives Gordo tough love because we have some outstanding strikers. Nonetheless, I have to go with BG's header. That kid is pure energy! He's having fun playing, and it shows in his enthusiasm. I really root for him to get out there, and to see him score was a treat. Against AC Milan, it was just awesome. Go Galaxy!
Hopefully, the "fans" and the "book writer" will begin to understand the sport. Beckham has shown get commitment and sacrifice for the MLS/Galaxy, and we should all support him in his quest for a World Cup spot while cheering the Galaxy to the MLS Cup. After all, it is also about developing the league and other players. Go Bryan Jordan, loved the way he plays since I first saw him last year. We are lucky we still have such an innocent league with players playing for the love of the game, not only money. Just say no to drugs, being drunk at games, dog fighting, and other criminal behavior. MLS players have a chance to be real role models for our young athletes.
Beckham needs to apologize to LA fans for "playing" them for 6 months at AC Milan as well as in this game. He has no credibility anymore. No matter how many prety passes he hits.
The team is absolutely lying here. Nobody from the Riot Squad has spoken with them, and the Riot Squad has no structure or authority system in place by which they could "ban" anybody.
Beckham owes the fans an apology, especially after challenging a fan to a fight. I'm a season ticket holder in 133 and was booing Beckham along with most people in my section and our side of the field. The Riot Squad are the most dedicated group of fans I've ever seen and they are definitely entitled to do what they did. How is David not punished whatsoever even though there is footage of him provoking the fan? What about his classless hushing of his own fans after the goal scored. I stood up in disbelief when he shushed the Riot Squad. He's classless and will never be a shadow of what Donovan has done for this team. Donovan at least almost single handidly won us the Cup.
While I do not think that anyone should use foul language and show poor sportsmanship around children I think that Beckham also showed poor judgement in asking the fan to come down to him (this was also done in front of children). I also thought it was bad form for him to go over and greet the AC Milan coach after being subbed off for the night. I think that was disrespectful to all LA Galaxy fans especially those who have supported him over the last 6 months. I have a son who is a total soccer fan and had just finished watching a 2/2009 AC Milan game where Beckham had just played and then he watched the replay of the Galaxy/Milan game and did not understand why Beckham would have greeted the coach of Milan when he did not even play for him. Respect works both ways.
The riot squad are a joke. They are supposed to be there to cheer on the team. Instead they hold stupid banners and signs. Why does Beckham need to apologize?
I was sitting a section over from the Riot Squad, and although the profanity made my night less enjoyable and makes me want to switch my seats...make absolutely no mistake about "the incident."
Beckham came over and challenged the fans to come down and fight him. What happened was 95% attributable to him coming over and challenging a fan to a fight. Yes, the fan should have stayed where he was, but a "professional" does not do that. And his comments that he was trying to shake someone's hand and that it doesn't bother him are even more shameful. It's an outright lie and insults the intelligence of everyone who saw what happened.
I'm not into booing players on the team I'm cheering for, but I certainly won't be cheering for someone like that for the rest of the season.
How can you people be so blind!
Beckham is a complete fraud who promised complete commitment to MLS/Galaxy and deserted this team during the beginning of the year and will desert us once again the season is over.
The LA Riot Squad saw thru this sham and have the right to voice their frustrations. These guys have been supporting the entire club before the Beckham Circus and will do so after the circus.
Support your fellow fan not a fraud who took your money and will be leaving at the end of the year.
fore and after Beckham
Beckham provoked fans in the stands to come onto the field.
He is at fault.
Beckham should appologize.
I don't like him anyomre!
Beckham should be severely fined for inciting a fan who was jeering him to come down and fight and then hiding behind security. The video doesn't lie but apparently AEG and 19 Entertainment do. The Riot Squad has issued no ban to the member that hopped the barrier so why is that on an official LA Galaxy website? For shame. End the circus once and for all.
it's just getting very, very annoying reading all this beckham talk. If he decides to leave who cares Galaxy has shown that they play great without him in the first 11. The same for Donovan, although that would really be a tough thing to see happen as he's pretty much been a great part of the conficence he has brought to the rest of the team when he's in the lineup. I've never been a Beckham fan, frankly the only thing that pisses me off as a loyal Galaxy supporter, is that he just wants to play both sides and says LA is his home and blah blah blah, then he runs off and says he still wants to return to serie A, I think as a professional he should realize how that could throw off the chemistry of a club that, like he says, has alot of young lads that are learning...but enough of he said she said, I hated him since his Red devil years,(Gunners fan here), but the one thing IN MY OPINION, as a 12 year supporter of the Galaxy and having seen this club take their first steps, the thing that in my opinion should be ACROSS THE BOARD is... IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OR NON MEMBER of a supporters club doesn't matter because above everything we should back up anyone that has the priviledge to wear our colors and crest and be on the pitch representing us, whatever issues they may have off the pitch can be dealt in other manners inorder to let team owners and management know what we as supporters are looking for in a club, the only credit i give to the pudgy comedian/part franchise owner up north is the decision he made in getting the other owners to agree on having a board which involves fan groups and they too can present their ideas for the direction of their club.
My exact point is this being- whatever beckham did, he did, but as a result we felt cheated, he played us better than he played on the pitch.we were fu***ng pissed! .but we move on and as loyalists should know that the dedication and RESPECT that we have for the Club itself is much stronger than 1 person on the roster, David Beckham is not the LA Galaxy, nor is it Landon Donovan or any one single footballer and we should remember that.
Hey Riot Squad. Thanks for motivating David, and by association, Landon, to take this team all the way. You guys are no doubt going to cheer him when he sends the G's to the final and you guys are going to look like a bunch of idiots. In a weekend you guys made yourself a joke.
Capello made it clear to David that in order to get a roster spot on the WC team in 2010 he needs to play at the highest level. I love MLS but it is nowhere near the highest level. You guys would give a nut or a freaking kidney to have the same opportunity. Professional athletes go back on thier word ALL THE TIME. Why did you think David was different?
And...if it weren't for Beckham, there is no way the G's would have come close to tying. Fact. Get over it!
Thanks for all the video on the blog! I enjoyed seeing these goals from down below. Keep it up blog staff.
I saw the ad for the end-of-season ticket package during the Milan game, and was thinking about buying it. Now, after the latest round of dishonesty from AEG and Beckham (and even Arena and Jim Watson?) I'm quite disinclined to give them my money.
I love the Galaxy, and I love going to the HDC, but I dislike the idea of giving money to an ownership group (and an influential player) who consistently fail to be honest with their fan base. (I suppose I'm supporting them indirectly by watching the broadcast, reading this blog, etc, but it's not taking money directly from my wallet.) The only thing worse than scoundrels are scoundrel who pretend to be good guys, but that's what Beckham and Leiweike have shown themselves to be.
For what it's worth, re the "handshake," if Beckham had said something like, "I made a mistake; I was very angry because they insulted my family; however I understand that what I did was not acceptable"--then I would have a completely different attitude toward the incident. I'd be angry if someone insulted my family, too. I'd like to think I would shrug it off and walk away, but who can say what he'd do, especially in the adrenaline flow of a soccer game? I've said rude things to people at the rec league field, so I can certainly understand how difficult it must be for a pro athlete to handle taunts in a packed stadium. I'm not going to throw a stone over losing one's temper. On the other hand, I freely admit that I was wrong when I was rude. It's the fact that Beckham tried to cover up the unpleasantness of his role in the episode (essentially lied to our faces, even after having a chance to calm down) that offends me.
Finally, while I understand their frustration re Beckham, I don't think the Riot Squad's jeering was the best thing to do. However, to point the finger only at the Riot Squad is unfair--while the fan should not have jumped down, Beckham deserves some blame for the way he handled the situation. Again, I would understand if he acknowledged his fault; to blame the incident solely on the fan is disgraceful and dishonest.
There are a few good people siiting in those two sections known as the riot squad. A few. The rest of them are drunk, poseur, firm/hooligan wannabe's. Any fan that is still upset with Beckham, only has themself to blame for being so naive about the business of soccer. He has made business decisions based on what his National Squad coach has asked of him.
I had my season tickets before Beckham came over, and I'll have them after he leaves. But while he is here, whenever he is here, I will cheer for the GALAXY, and any player that does something worthy of cheering while wearing our colors.
As far as Beckhams actions, all I can say, is that if anyone were to ever say some of the things about my family, that the idiot squad was yelling about Victoria and the Beckham children, I would now be up on murder charges.
The idiot squad deserves nothing from Bruce Arena, David Beckham, Landon Donovan or any other member of the Glaxy organization. Nothing. Their actions have shown their true colors, and they should just shut it.
riot squad = poseurs
the ANGEL CITY BRIGADE and the GALAXIANS are the support sections to be a part of!
Go GALAXY!! The rest of the fans are behind you, ALL of you.
Why isn't anyone challenging Beckham's premiss that he must play in Europe to be considered for England? What is it in his game that will change over there? He has been and always will be a long ball and free kick specialist. As long as he is match fit, he will be the same player no matter where he plays. MLS was good enough for him to get called up for Eruo qualifiers and other friendlies. My conclusion is that he does not really want to play for LA but cannot turn away from the fat contract that no one else will offer him. I dare him to use his walk off clause and leave our shores after this season.
"In addition, the LA Riot Squad has informed us that they have issued a lifetime ban to the fan that went onto the field of play"
Bull!!
To the anonymous that said it was Becks who ran the length of the field - you're wrong. Donovan was at the top of the box on our defensive end when Omar headed the ball to becks. Beckham took off, Landon saw he had the ball and took off as well. Beckham ran 1/2 the length of the field, Donovan ran the entire length of the field Gordo ran as well - just not the entire length of the field - and finished the play. It was beautiful.
Oh, and to the Cannon girl or whatever - Donovan has been on loan EXACTLY ONE TIME - to Bayern Munich. If you want to criticize, at least get your facts right so you have a little more credibility.
Mark V,
Dude - thank you! I love how you said what needed to be said, direct & to the point - without dramatizing the sentences with wails and tears and yells and profanities. I totally understand with what you stated. I've been a hard-core fan of the LA Galaxy before David, during David, and hope to be after David, if the good heavens permit. I am not going to label everyone in the LARS supporters groups as "immature, profane, drunken clowns". I've met several good, down-to-earth, simple, loyal LA Galaxy addicts that are in the LARS group. Like with many, many scenarios - ALCOHOL + BIG MOUTHS = BUTT-CLOWNS! To me, David lost his composure and his cool; and, he is as much to blame as the ranting, half-sensed, doped fan. But, to your point of responding to obscenities and taunting at one's family members - There's NO way I would stand for that! I'm pretty sure it would get under my skin and make me behave like a predator and a cave-man.
I do not carry around the image and notion that David is LA Galaxy's poster-boy and savior and that he's committed to this team. I don't. But, what he is - he is a world-class soccer/football player that serve gnarly crosses with incredible precision. To me, that's about it. I just think that fans need to appreciate that while David is here and he keeps playing the way he did, consistently - then, our team is the benefactor for it at the end of the season. After the season is over - let him go do what he needs to do; meanwhile, Bruce & Dave will have money and a game-plan in mind. Enjoy the soccer; F*&% the drama and the what if's & name-calling, etc.
The Riot Squad should be banned, all of them. They are and always have been disgusting. My family had season tickets near their section 2 years ago and we had the front office transfer them to GA as we have children and do not want them exposedt the disgusting behaviour commnets and language. We now sit near the AC Brigade and they are great. The kids love to join in with their chants. We have taken the children to matches at Anfield and sat near the Kop so know exactly what to expect fron supporter's groups and a supporter's group the Riot Squad is not. Those banners should have been confiscated at the start of the game. This was an International game, what a disgusting image of the Galaxy, MLS, Los Angeles, California and the USA to show to the world. I also do not see anything wrong with Beckham acknowledging the AC Milan coach, wouldn't anybody acknowledge a friend. He is CLASS. Nobody should have to put up with disrespect to their family.
73% voted Becks man of the match on the Galaxy web site so obviously the boo boys are hugely in the minority.
RE: The "Incident"
Let me show you a Quote from Beckham
“People react to criticism in different ways, and my way is definitely to come out fighting.”
David, You owe Me and all 30,000 plus Galaxy Supporters an Apology for your actions, comments etc that night. Step up and show me your commitment
I will be waiting..
Section 142 Row C seats 1 2 3 4
all this beckham crap/drama is ridiculous! its a bunch of fighting and nonsense between love sick girls who love to look at beckham in underwear and consider him eye candy on the field, which i have to disagree with there are other "eye candy" guys on the field; and with a bunch of actual galaxy supporters who will love the galaxy with or without beckham! the fact is beckham mocked the MLS and he should apologize for what he said. Also his management and the galaxy management should not cover up what really happened because once the truth comes out it will look really bad on the organization and have everybody question the creditability of the team and the players! this team has done well so far without beckham and all that matters is that they continue to do well with or without him and not turn out like the last 1 1/2 seasons that beckham has been here and start a horrible losing streak! who care if the fans boo him they have a right to do it just like everyone else in the MLS that is how they show they dislike a player or what the player did! get over it u cant stop them from booing just because ur upset about it and hes upset about it i didnt see anybody complaining when everyone booed mansally at the new england game! just move on from the drama crap and focus on reality which is soccer and winning!
The "official" story just doesn't make sense to me ... If what Beckham said in the postgame is true -- asking the fan to come down and shake his hand -- why would that fan then receive a lifetime ban from the stadium/club for leaving his seat to approach the field of play to shake the hand of this "superstar"??
Either Beckham lied about his words/actions near the half, or the LA Galaxy is actually issuing a lifetime ban to a fan who was asked by a Galaxy player to shake his hand.
To Meg:
I like your comments and I agree with you. the Angels City Brigade is doing a great job and they have some manners and class. I am sorry the LA Riot Squad is there.
No One should put up with abuse said about their family. The guy shouting it wouldnt. What do they expect. What annoying people. My name for them is the LA Idiot squad.
NO one likes THEM.
Who cares. Let's focus on the next game. Beckham is gone after this season, so everything should be back to normal by the end of the season.
Because what the newspapers and riot squad have been saying is true that the beckham told the guy to come down there and fight him, which is what the guy did that is why it doesnt make sense and all AEG and beckhams people are trying to cover up with what really happened by having him say that he "just wanted to shake hands" which is a buncha bull anyways because the fan shouldnt have gotten fined for trespassing if beckham wanted him down there just to "shake hands"
Why is nobody challenging Beckham on his obvious lies? Why has nobody questioned him on 19 Entertainment's role in the team and what he had to do with it? Why aren't people questioning his obviously false version of the Milan loan? Why are people just accepting his version of events the other night when eyewitnesses and video show that it's nothing close to the truth?
"Shake his hand"? Uh huh. Yeah, sure Becks. I'd like to shake your hand too.
the statement is a lie. read the LA Riot Squad press release on their forums. I'm embarrassed at all the Galaxy fans supporting a player who clearly doesn't want to be on the team. In March he tried to jump ship. Within days of being back in LA, he's already talking about his next loan to England or Milan. That's an insult to US Soccer, MLS, and the Galaxy. He claimed he was coming to America to spread the game. Not cash in when it was convenient.
There is no doubt Becks played a great game. But he must take personal responsibility for challenging the fan. It is a shame that the fan gets a lifetime ban, and becks, the professional gets off free and easy.
I'm so ashamed of the stupid LA Riot Squad & tempted to bring a banner to the next home game declaring my distaste for them. Becks, the media & soccer fans need to know this is an isolated group of unintelligent supporters.
Becks made a mistake in extending his loan with Milan to the end of their season, but who could blame him for wanting to play there?
His contract allows him to go on loan during the off season, and I have no problem with that.
Beckham gives the Galaxy incomparable media coverage. Whoever he plays for & whatever he does, to have "LA Galaxy" recognized now as an international brand is unreal. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED right there.
I wish him an excellent remainder of the MLS season. And I hope he uses this confrontation as motivation to perform.
"I'm so ashamed of the stupid LA Riot Squad & tempted to bring a banner to the next home game declaring my distaste for them. Becks, the media & soccer fans need to know this is an isolated group of unintelligent supporters."
Distain for Beckham is not isolated, organized chanting is isolated in this country. In Europe the whole stadium would have been at him. A lot of supporters don't like how he has played this team and the league.
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