Flamengo Withdraws from GA Cup Amidst Controversy
In a shocking turn of events, Flamengo’s Under-17 team has withdrawn from the GA Cup, citing a contentious semifinal match against the Philadelphia Union and accusations of misconduct. This decision comes just one day before the team was set to play in the third place match.
The GA Cup, a youth tournament run by MLS Next, has been marred by several instances of discriminatory language and behavior. This has led to the New York Red Bulls withdrawing their U15 and U17 teams from the competition, and now Flamengo has followed suit.
According to a league source, Flamengo made the decision to withdraw following their semifinal match against the Philadelphia Union, which they lost 2-0. MLS Next announced that they would be launching an investigation into the match, as both teams were accused of violating tournament rules, including the use of discriminatory language.
Instead of waiting for the results of the investigation, Flamengo informed MLS Next that they would not be participating in the third place match. Attempts to reach out to Flamengo for comment were unsuccessful.
This is not the first time that the GA Cup has been plagued by incidents of discrimination. In fact, the New York Red Bulls had already withdrawn their U17 team from the competition due to similar issues.
MLS Next, the subsidiary of MLS that runs its youth competitions, released a statement saying, “CF Flamengo will not participate in today’s scheduled GA Cup match. MLS NEXT immediately began an investigation into the events following Saturday’s semifinal match, and that investigation remains ongoing. Given the age of the minors, specific details about allegations or findings regarding any individuals will remain confidential.”
According to sources, during the semifinal match, a Flamengo player was sent off for receiving two yellow cards, and a Flamengo assistant coach was red carded at halftime for verbal abuse towards a referee. However, this incident was not related to the use of discriminatory language.
After the match, a Flamengo player was red carded for allegedly directing discriminatory language towards the referee. Another player also used discriminatory language, but was not sanctioned.
MLS already has protocols in place for handling cases of discriminatory language in league matches, but these do not exactly mirror the protocol for MLS Next matches. A review of this protocol is currently underway.
In their statement, MLS Next expressed deep concern and upset over the recent incidents of on-field abuse during the GA Cup. They also stated that trained professional staff are available to provide immediate resources to all involved.
Sources have revealed that international teams were briefed on what constitutes banned or discriminatory words prior to the tournament. This briefing took place in both one-on-one settings and in a larger meeting with representatives from all teams, both international and domestic.
Summary:
Flamengo’s Under-17 team has withdrawn from the GA Cup amidst controversy and accusations of misconduct. This decision comes after a semifinal match against the Philadelphia Union, where both teams were accused of using discriminatory language. The GA Cup has been plagued by similar incidents, leading to the New York Red Bulls also withdrawing their teams. MLS Next, the subsidiary of MLS that runs youth competitions, is currently investigating the situation and has expressed deep concern over the recent incidents. International teams were briefed on banned and discriminatory words prior to the tournament, but the use of such language is still unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
