There will be a few more New York Red Bulls fans in attendance for Wednesday night's match against FC Barcelona after the Red Bulls helped lift bans on six of 10 fans who were ejected and banned from Giants stadium during the team's match against the Los Angeles Galaxy on July 19th.
Nine fans were ejected during the altercation pictured above, an incident that escalated after Giants Stadium security guards entered Section 101, home of the Empire Supporter's Club, attempted to remove a fan who was crowd-surfing. The incident turned ugly when fans reacted to some mistreatment and rough behavior from stadium security.
The tenth fan ejected, in a seperate incident, was former New York Red Bulls fan of the year Thomas Binkley, who was ejected for an encounter in another section. Binkley's ban has been lifted.
"We looked into the incidents and realize that there were some peacemakers who got caught up in the situation and we were able to work with the sports authority," Red Bulls managing director Erik Stover said. "The four other fans were guilty of things such as crowd surfing and pushing guards, and there was a security guard who was injured in the incident and we can't just ignore that."
The incidents of the July 19th match have led the Red Bulls to work toward establishing new guidelines for the policing of Section 101, where the club's oldest and largest supporter's group sits. The club will place ambassadors in the section for home games and the ambassadors are expected to sere as liasions with stadium security, who are expected to have a less visible presence in section 101.
What do you think of the news? Are you glad to see the Red Bulls get involved? Are you still angry that the team is playing in Giants Stadium? Have you given up on going to games at Giants Stadium?
Share your thoughts below.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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