San Diego FC said it will ban 33 fans who brawled following last week’s match against the LA Galaxy at Snapdragon Stadium.
The fans “will be banned indefinitely from attending all Club and MLS events, including home and away matches,” the club said in a statement posted Friday morning. SDFC officials said they’re working with stadium officials, the Galaxy and local law enforcement to confirm the identities of the fans and enforce the bans.
San Diego FC plays another home match on Saturday, taking on Austin FC at 7:30 p.m.
Coach Mikey Varas said after Friday’s practice that he wants San Diego’s ers to be “the most ionate fan base in the world, if we can.”
“But at the same time, recognize that violence doesn’t have a place in this,” he said. “This has to be a safe place for young kids and for future generations to come to be inspired. Just know that as much as we want to beat the team in front of us … at the end of the day, that’s a human being on the other side of the line. We only do this together.”
The fight in the stands began shortly after Hirving “Chucky” Lozano delivered a goal in injury time, delivering San Diego a 2-1 win and moving the club to 2-0 against its Carson-based rival this season.
The Galaxy’s ers watched the match from a designated section in Snapdragon’s second deck. Some SDFC ers rushed toward the group when, according to several social media posts, Galaxy ers unfurled a Bob Marley flag that was reportedly stolen from SDFC’s Daygo Boys ers group during the teams’ season opener.
The clashes began in the second deck, then continued into the concourse below.
San Diego police responded with squad cars; a helicopter circled overhead after the game, urging fans to leave the parking lots promptly. There were no immediate reports of arrests.
SDFC called the behavior “entirely unacceptable,” saying Friday it does not represent the club’s values.
“We want an atmosphere that is ionate, inclusive, and secure – where everyone in San Diego feels proud to come together as one community to celebrate the game we love,” the club said. “There is no place for violence in our sport. We ask all fans to uphold the values of our Club and help protect the integrity of the matchday experience for everyone.”
