I guess it can happen here after all

My first response when I read this was...Dude.

A halftime brawl between more than 100 fans marred an exhibition match Sunday between West Ham United of the English Premier League club and the MLS’ Columbus Crew.

The fights, which overshadowed West Ham United’s 3-1 win, began when a handful of West Ham supporters, some wearing the team’s claret and blue colors, entered the northeast corner of the stadium where the Crew’s most boisterous supporters typically gather.

Crew supporters began directing chants toward the rival fans, and fights quickly broke out between more than 100 Crew fans and at least 30 West Ham fans. Columbus police officers and Crew Stadium security staff eventually separated the groups.

I know that MLS doesn't have any jurisdiction over a friendly match (at least, I don't think they do), but either the League or the USSF need to come down very hard against the Crew and its supporters.  This is something that the sport in this country does not need. 

UPDATE:  Please read this post.

Comments

[kovolikessoccer]

Sounds like a bunch of EPL hooligans. The MSL is not accustomed to that sort of belligerence.

http://www.soccershop.com

[Dr Chuck Pearson]

Howard? SERIOUSLY?

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/blog.php?b=1680

I won't apologize for the Nordecke, but there's a significant difference between "brawl involving Columbus supporters" and "West Ham supporters looking for aggro and security sitting on their thumbs".

This is already enough of a disaster for Columbus. DO NOT make it worse by writing utter BS like "either the League or the USSF need to come down very hard against the Crew and its supporters" without finding out WHAT THE BLUE BLAZES ACTUALLY WENT ON.

[Eric]

I was wondering what Dr. Chuck's thoughts on this might be. Wondering if he was so far away from soccer now that he wouldn't notice.

Glad to see you're still following things.

One of my first thoughts was 'my, how far Columbus has come since the days when SDY was covering the team.

Not that I'm casting any aspersions at CrewFan. Seems pretty clear that the team screwed the pooch on this one, and is trying to pretend it's not their fault.

There was a very nice article in the Dispatch yesterday, giving the CrewFan perspective.