Editor’s Note: This article was written by Orange and Black Contributor Tyler Griffith, and is edited minimally to preserve his opinion.
New information has been released following the incident that occurred during the May 6 match against OCSC and San Diego Loyal.
First, the league announced the conclusion of their investigation:
It was determined that Kevin Partida was the offending player, and the punishment was outlined as such:
“Following video review and interviews with the players, officials and coaching staffs, the Foul and Abusive Language Panel concluded that a homophobic slur was used in violation of the league’s zero-tolerance policy related to any form of harassment or discrimination. The player, USLPA and both clubs accepted the outcome of the investigation and, as a result, Partida must complete mandatory sensitivity training and has been suspended for six games and fined an undisclosed amount.”
Next, both teams released (very similar) statements, emphasizing that they and the league stand united against hate.
And finally, Kevin Partida released an apology on his own social media accounts:
If readers go by these statements, the conclusion one would draw would be that this has been neatly wrapped up and it’s time to move on. Player did something wrong, the league stepped in, punishments were handed out, and we all moved forward.
But is it enough?
Following Friday’s news, fans from both San Diego and OCSC were not satisfied with this outcome. Many were calling for a more severe punishment, ranging from more games suspended to an outright expulsion from the league. Others cited the “sensitivity training” as a face saving measure that will have little to no impact.
Fans had questions, too. Partida has been fined, but where is the money going? To an LGBTQ+ organization? Or back into the league’s pocket? What about when Partida returns to the pitch after his six-game suspension? The next time SD and OC meet, he will (presumably) be back in the lineup. Is the league worried about this being an issue when the team’s meet again on August 5, San Diego’s Pride Night? What about the fact that this all took place against San Diego in the first place, the team that employs Colin Martin, the only openly gay player in US soccer? This isn’t the first time that Martin has been on the pitch when an incident like this has happened, either.
This isn’t just a USL problem (hell, it’s not just a soccer problem), but an issue that continues to permeate US soccer at all levels. Suffice to say, fans aren’t satisfied with this response because it’s the same tired, ineffective response every time this happens.
Kevin Partida, 6-game suspension.
Junior Flemmings, 6-game suspension
Sebastian Lletget, 2-game suspension
Santiago Sosa, 3-game suspension
Alan Gordon, 3-game suspension
Colin Clark, 3-game suspension
Clark’s suspension happened in 2012. Here we are, 11 years later, and this is a problem that suspensions still haven’t solved. And this doesn’t even address the issue of homophobic chants that are heard in soccer stadiums across the globe, an issue so severe that US soccer had to step in and ban anti-LGBTQ+ chants.
Regarding this specific incident, we reached out to OCSC for further comment on the matter. Here was the response we received unedited.
"Immediately following the game, the Club acted swiftly and decisively in suspending the player. The player and the club have participated fully in the USL’s disciplinary process which was conducted by all parties in a professional and thorough manner. The Club immediately accepted the punishment which we believe is merited and the player has apologized.
As we have stated on different occasions in the past weeks, Orange County SC believes in soccer for everyone and there is no room in the game for discrimination of any kind.
We will continue to work with our staff, players, fans, and all relevant parties to ensure these values are upheld."
This is all well and good, but it relies solely on the league to step in and make the tough decisions. One thing I wanted to know more about was what specifically is the club doing to prevent incidents like this from happening in the future.
From the response above, the implied answer is “nothing”.
Keep in mind, OCSC is not acting outside of precedent. The one consistent element across all of these incidents is the lack of team involvement. Press releases will often cite “the league suspended...” or “the league is requiring...”, but what about the club's role in all of this? “Full cooperation” is nice, but it essentially passes the responsibility of reprimand up the ladder.
This is the crux of the issue. Teams need to have a more active role in situations like this if we want any chance of an actual culture shift happening in US soccer. If a player can run onto the field, yell the f-slur, and get what amounts to a slap on the wrist, how can anyone expect the culture around LGBTQ+ players and fans to change? How can players like Colin Martin, let alone any player who has not yet come out ever feel safe when he steps onto the pitch if the league and teams around him continually fail to adequately address bigoted hate?
Changes need to be made longitudinally across the sport. This starts with the league, but it must include more active participation from the teams themselves. If teams continue to wash their hands of incidents caused by their own players, then nothing will change. As soon as a player dons a club’s crest and colors, they become a representative of that club. Even if you strip away the moral obligation (which should be the priority over all else), the right business decision is to come out strongly and swiftly against hate, even when it’s coming from inside your own house.
“Participating fully in the USL’s disciplinary process” is no longer enough.
