In a striking move that underscores the growing tension between sports organizations’ business decisions and their fan base’s values, five fan groups of D.C. United, a prominent Major League Soccer team based in Washington, D.C., have announced a significant protest against the team’s recent partnership with Saudi Arabia. This protest emerges in the wake of D.C. United’s preseason trip to the Middle Eastern country, where the team participated in four exhibition matches from January 30 to February 9, 2024. The fan groups have voiced their dissent by pledging to remain silent for the first four matches of the 2024 MLS season. This silence will be marked by a noticeable absence of the usual fanfare—no drums will be banged, and no flags or banners will be displayed, in a clear sign of protest.
The decision to protest was articulated through a joint statement shared on social media, highlighting the fan groups’ discontent with the club’s recent actions, which they believe are at odds with the club’s proclaimed values. The statement emphasizes the importance of “being ‘relentless, deliberate and decisive'” and argues that these values should encompass “a deliberate respect for human rights,” suggesting that the partnership with Saudi Arabia is perceived as a violation of these principles. This move by the fan groups signals a growing trend among sports fans who are increasingly holding their favorite teams accountable for their off-the-field decisions, especially when they seem to contradict widely held ethical standards or the fans’ own values.
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Interestingly, the Screaming Eagles, D.C. United’s largest fan group, was not among the signatories of the statement. According to a report by The Washington Post, this absence is due to the group still formulating its response, with a particular focus on not wanting to inadvertently punish the players and coaches for decisions made by the team’s ownership.
The protest is set against the backdrop of D.C. United’s 2024 MLS season opener, which is scheduled to take place at home against the New England Revolution on Saturday. A highlight of the team’s first four games, and likely a focal point for the protest, will be the match on March 16, when D.C. United hosts Lionel Messi and Inter Miami FC at Audi Field. This period will serve as a crucial test not only for the team’s performance on the field but also for the strength and impact of its fan base’s silent protest.
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The fan groups’ decision to protest in this manner brings to the forefront the complex interplay between sports, politics, and human rights. It also raises questions about the responsibilities of sports teams and organizations in navigating partnerships and sponsorships, especially with entities from countries with contentious human rights records. As the 2024 MLS season unfolds, the actions of D.C. United’s fan groups and the team’s response to their concerns will likely continue to be a point of interest and discussion among the wider sports community and beyond.
