Today the ISA board was sent the above notice to indicate that all flags, banners, instruments and other supporter activities will not be permitted for the match against the New York Red Bulls on August 11th. While the ISA has suspended the organized support that our volunteers provide to the team, this revocation will effect all supporters and the above items will not be permitted into the game.
This notice was also accompanied by a wave of individual bans to supporters who allegedly entered Section 101 during the match on July 21st. The ISA rejects the premise of these bans as there was never official communication or notice that entry to 101 was prohibited. These most recent actions show the level of distrust and apathy that current Fire management have for their most loyal customers. We are disappointed, though hardly surprised, with this continued breakdown of supporter relations, and will continue to ask for a public meeting to address the current state of the club. We would like answers to why video and photographic evidence was used in this situation but not used in the instances leading to the cancellation of all tickets in Section 101. Until these issues are addressed the ISA will continue the suspension of organized support.
The board would like to reiterate that Section 8 Chicago is an Independent Supporters’ Association (ISA) for the Chicago Fire Soccer Club. The ISA is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization run by volunteers through an elected board of directors whose central goal is to represent all Fire supporters. Section 8 Chicago does not have members, nor does it have a structure that facilitates the recognition of “affiliated supporters groups”. The above statement by the Fire reflects that the Front Office continues to misconstrue Section 8’s purpose as an association and effectively bans organized support from any individual entering Toyota Park on Saturday. Such a widespread ban on top of bans of individuals who participated in a peaceful protest is unduly harsh and borders on illegality.
The lack of ability to identify individuals in Section 101 guilty of violating the Fan Code of Conduct was cited by the club back in June as a reason for the blanket ban.
The Fire have five home matches remaining and the previous suspension of organized activities by the ISA back in June was very noticeable as it was very quiet and very dull no matter the scoreline on the pitch.
On Wednesday night, the Fire were eliminated from the US Open Cup by Philadelphia, 3-0, and are currently six points adrift of the sixth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with ten games remaining.
They say football without fans is nothing. Sadly, it appears that the Chicago Fire are going all out to learn the hard way on this one with this latest act.
Chicago Fire
MLS
