Supporters’ Shield ought not be shelved
Something called the Supporters’ Shield Foundation (SSF), which is under the aegis of something called the Independent Supporters Council (ISC), has decided that Major League Soccer’s Supporters’ Shield will not be awarded this year.
Why? Because the coronavirus pandemic has imbalanced the league’s schedule, emptied the league’s stadiums and drained the passion from live soccer. Thus, the Shield has somehow been rendered temporarily illegitimate.
Which is lunacy.
Former goalkeeper William Hesmer won two Supporters’ Shields — given to the team with the best regular-season record — and one MLS Cup with the Crew. SSF, ISC, whoever you people are, please listen to him.
“As a player, you put the work in every day, for months and months, and bring all you’ve got every Saturday,” Hesmer said. “So much goes into winning that award that, to me, it means more than getting hot for one month (and winning MLS Cup). This year, there’s COVID, the threat of a lockout, playing in a bubble, playing out of the bubble, and people are suffering ...
“The Supporters’ Shield is as legitimate as ever. It’s kind of disgusting to take away the top honor in the league.”
Former outside back Frankie Hejduk won five Supporters’ Shields with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, LA Galaxy and Crew. He was the captain of the Crew’s 2008 championship team. Whoever decided to pause the Shield — apparently, it was five scarves on a remote Slack channel — please listen to him.
“I remember holding up the Shield and in the background at Crew Stadium was a sea of fans,” Hejduk said. “That’s a moment I’ll never forget. (Fans) were a part of it. You can’t skip that. Eventually, it gets held up, and eventually, the fans are going to be in the picture. Why take that away? I’m dumbfounded.”
The decision to temporarily shelve the Shield is so random, capricious and wildly unpopular that it is bound to be overturned. Right?
“If they don’t give it out then the MLS will kill it,” said Crew historian Steve Sirk. “The creation of the Shield is a cool thing that happened more than 20 years ago, and it took a little work, but the league got on board. It’s kind of a trust between the league and the fans. And if it doesn’t go out this year, the league will come up with something else. And the Shield will be dead.”
Sirk attended the supporters’ summit in 1998, when the rules for awarding the Shield were first determined. He remembers the difficult negotiation.
Given that MLS was constantly dickering with its tiebreaking system (shootouts, goals for, goal differential, and so forth), it was decided the best course would be to let the league define the terms and let the supporters present the trophy.
“It has always been thus — it has never been a purity test — until this year, when five people decided otherwise, out of the blue,” Sirk said.
Jeff Barger, who volunteers with the Nordecke fan group and liaises with the IFC, did a deep dive into the process. In sum, this is his report: The five-member SSF, which controls the Shield, made the call to put the award on hiatus with little or no input. It was kind of like a backroom deal at the Kremlin.
“They’re backtracking some,” Barger said. “They’re now communicating with members. I hope they respect the feedback.”
Fans from every corner of the league slammed into social media. Ex-players weighed in, as well. Alexi Lalas, whose gelatinous spine lends him incredible flexibility, landed on both sides of the issue.
“Who controls this thing and what were they thinking?” Hesmer said.
“There are signing implications, bonus clauses, CONCACAF qualifying implications and a lot of other stuff that’s in the CBA that could be impacted.”
Hesmer, a financial manager who works with professional athletes, thinks about these things. Morgan Hughes, who helped lead Save the Crew — the greatest fan-resistance movement since the Roman Colosseum closed for repairs in the 6th century — is preparing to reorganize.
“When the rules were laid down, the competition was never balanced,” Hughes said.
“The Shield went to the No. 1 seed going into the tournament. Period. And for five unelected (people) who installed themselves on some committee, and who answer to nobody, to suddenly subject it to a purity test … that’s just reckless and embarrassing.”
It is also monumentally stupid, and the last thing anyone needs as COVID-19 climbs its third spike. But the decision will be reversed. It has to be. Right?
marace@dispatch.com