Fans Booted from Soccer game for waving Tibet Flags

[gunns]

Fans Booted From Utah Soccer Game For Waving Flags
SALT LAKE CITY - A group of fans who were kicked out of an exhibition soccer game between the Chinese national team and Real Salt Lake say it was because they stirred up a political controversy by waving the flag of Tibet.

``I was really, really shocked. I couldn't believe this was happening in this country,'' said Colin Coker, who was among the small group of fans who were taken out of Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday night.

The fans had been waving the flag of Tibet, the Himalayan region that has been battling China over independence for decades, during the game Thursday night. Some of the Chinese players stepped off the field early in the second half and refused to play again until the flags were put away.

The fans put away the Tibetan flags, as well as flags of Taiwan and a sign referring to China's Tiananmen Square protest in 1989, but brought them out again later in the game. Coker said he and several other fans were then kicked out of the stadium.

Real Salt Lake spokesman Trey Fitz-Gerald said the fans were kicked out for being disruptive. He said they were more focused on harassing the Chinese players than making a political statement.

``This is a case where we invited this team here, and we were their host, and we needed to be diplomatic,'' Fitz-Gerald said.

Coker acknowledged he was partly trying to distract and annoy the Chinese team, but he also wanted to raise awareness about Tibet's fight with China. He said he was considering taking his complaint to the American Civil Liberties Union.

http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_160181705.html

[cutthemdown]

Damn Chinese, we should drop a bomb on them.

[alkemical]

SO - chinese policy - is carried out in the US - they must really OWN us

I guess that's all i need to know.....

[spdirty]

wow...I would understand if they put up signs that said fu(k china, but a few flags, and those players get all upset? They need to know where they play and know what the first amendment here means. So does this Fitz-Gerald punk.

[Northman]

Real Salt Lake spokesman Trey Fitz-Gerald said the fans were kicked out for being disruptive. He said they were more focused on harassing the Chinese players than making a political statement.

I can understand them getting the boot. Protestors are annoying as hell and when i go to a game i go to watch a game not listen to some idiots in the stands.

[loborugger]

I can understand them getting the boot. Protestors are annoying as hell and when i go to a game i go to watch a game not listen to some idiots in the stands.


I thought the whole reason to go to a soccer game was to watch the nuts in the stands!!! ROFL! Its certainly not to watch a 90 minute "knuckle-biter" that ends 1-0.

My (serious) take is this - its just as dumb to kick political protesters outta a sporting event as it is to protest a sporting event. I could see protesting the event if the old farts leading the PRC were out there but the Chinese players have no influence over their nations policies.

I wonder if Gaff was there? This sounds like his kinda thing.

[Garcia Bronco]

Well...what the did was disturbing the game...I would have asked them to put them away...and it appears they did...but like dumb children they brought them back out....the got what they deserved. There is a time and place for everything....this was not one of those times. Heck....they could have even started a riot.

[Garcia Bronco]

wow...I would understand if they put up signs that said fu(k china, but a few flags, and those players get all upset? They need to know where they play and know what the first amendment here means. So does this Fitz-Gerald punk.

Their free speech was not hindered at all. They, the protesters, were able to express themselves and were not jailed or worse for their expressions.

[Bronco Bob]

Let's put the shoe on the other foot. Say an American team went down to Brazil and some people started waving Cuban and Venezuelan flags.
How would you feel about that?

Now say the Brazilian authorities kicked them out of the game. Would
you denounce the Brazilians for restricting freedom of speach?

[Garcia Bronco]

Let's put the shoe on the other foot. Say an American team went down to Brazil and some people started waving Cuban and Venezuelan flags.
How would you feel about that?

Now say the Brazilian authorities kicked them out of the game. Would
you denounce the Brazilians for restricting freedom of speach?

IMO, what Brazil does in their country is their own business. I wouldn't care.

[Rascal]

SO - chinese policy - is carried out in the US - they must really OWN us

I guess that's all i need to know.....

No kidding. How pathetic.

[enjolras]

It was carried out by a private organization (a soccer club) because it was (in their opinion) in the best interests of their business.

I don't see anything wrong with that.

[broncocalijohn]

I can understand them getting the boot. Protestors are annoying as hell and when i go to a game i go to watch a game not listen to some idiots in the stands.


I agree. This site isnt a public forum but a soccer game. Their are many things you cannot bring into a stadium including offensive signs. They should have been arrested for being seen in that game. W/O the protesters, the size of the crowd went down to Llama, Ludo and the local JV soccer team. Puhleeze. It is soccer.

[yavoon]

Let's put the shoe on the other foot. Say an American team went down to Brazil and some people started waving Cuban and Venezuelan flags.
How would you feel about that?

Now say the Brazilian authorities kicked them out of the game. Would
you denounce the Brazilians for restricting freedom of speach?

I wouldn't feel a thing. would u? who was this targeted at anyway. I'm pretty sure in america we're use to ppl doing crazy stuff in protest. waving a venezuelan flag just doesn't seem to rise to the occasion.

[NYBronco]

"The fans had been waving the flag of Tibet, the Himalayan region that has been battling China over independence for decades, during the game Thursday night. Some of the Chinese players stepped off the field early in the second half and refused to play again until the flags were put away."

The Chinese players just learned a valuable lesson in the power of Freedoms... Speech and Expression. Take the seed home and plant it and don't forget Tienneman Square. For some it can take a lifetime to accomplish while others can lose it in the blink of an eye.

[loborugger]

"The fans had been waving the flag of Tibet, the Himalayan region that has been battling China over independence for decades, during the game Thursday night. Some of the Chinese players stepped off the field early in the second half and refused to play again until the flags were put away."

The Chinese players just learned a valuable lesson in the power of Freedoms... Speech and Expression. Take the seed home and plant it and don't forget Tienneman Square. For some it can take a lifetime to accomplish while others can lose it in the blink of an eye.

No they didnt. The protesters were kicked outta the stadium. Now, the protesters may have been kicked out for a variety of reasons, but nonetheless all the Chinese players will know is they threatened not to play and they got their way.