Fans of the home opener against the Toronto FC’s Chicago fire expressed frustration in the US by booing the Starspangle banner on Saturday.
The boos were stable and followed by O Canada’s enthusiastic production.
Also, when the Los Angeles Galaxy visited Vancouver on March 2nd, fans were booed the US national anthem at BC Place Stadium.
Canadian football fans are following hockey and are complaining about President Donald Trump’s tariffs on the country and talking about Canada becoming the 51st state.
Chicago coach Greg Barhalter and American midfielder Jonathan Dean were asked about possible national anthem boos in Toronto earlier in the week.
“We’re ready to play in a football game,” said Berhalter, a former US team coach. “That response has nothing to do with a football game, and it has something to do with anything other than football that we can’t control.
“So it’s just focusing on what we really have control over. You know, we know we’re ready to play. We get ready. We know our opponents.
Added Dean: “It wasn’t something we touched yet. But yeah, for us, we’ll be respectful no matter what.”
Ironically, Toronto coach Robin Fraser mentioned the Canadian national anthem when asked about special memories from the home opener before the game.
“When the team played really well and the anthem was sung, he or she could actually stop singing and the crowd could take over it. It was just the feeling that created a goose bump,” said the Jamaican-born former US International Fraser.
