Supporters’ groups are the lifeblood of most soccer teams, and they make each club’s home games infinitely better. For rivalry games, they become even more fun when visiting supporter groups make the trip.
Vancouver’s main supporter’s group, the Southsiders, have made the trips to Portland and Seattle since the team joined MLS in 2011. But they won’t be making those trips in 2017, thanks to Donald Trump’s immigration ban.
In a statement they released on their website, the Southsiders said that the ban could affect some of their members and it couldn’t “in good conscience be responsible for arranging or hosting events or experiences which potentially come at the exclusion of some of our members, no matter how few in number those affected might be.”
They also added while they weren’t asking their members to participate in protests or boycotts, if a member was to travel to a game in the US this season that they, “leave their Southsiders scarf at home as a sign of respect for members who cannot cross the border with the same ease and personal freedom as you do.”
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“Our supporter’s group was founded on the principles of inclusivity, acceptance and respect for all who sought to stand with us. Since our earliest days we have stood for equality, and we have spoken out against racism and bigotry. We have always strived to be the place where everyone feels welcome. We are the place where everyone belongs.
As you may be aware, recent developments in the United States present some very serious and distressing implications for some of our members, both directly and indirectly.”
The Whitecaps will make trips to Portland on April 22 and October 22, as well as a trip to Seattle on Wednesday September 27.
