New York Red Bulls supporters walk out in protest over handling of player's racist language

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New York Red Bulls supporters walked out of the club’s match in Harrison, New Jersey, on Saturday as the team battled to a 1-1 draw against the Houston Dynamo.

The protest occurred after Major League Soccer suspended and fined Dante Vanzeir for using racist language toward San Jose Earthquakes strike Jeremy Eboisse. The player alleged that a Red Bulls player used a racial slur during their match on April 8, causing a scuffle and a delay.

Vanzeir took responsibility for his language and was banned for six matches.

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New York Red Bulls supporters hold up signs prior to the Major League Soccer game against the Houston Dynamo on April 15, 2023, at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Vikings Army, Empire Supporters Club and Torcida 86 announced ahead of Saturday’s match against the Dynamo they would stage a walkout in protest of what they believed was inadequate and lenient discipline of Vanzeir.

"The South Ward is unified in our desire to protest in reaction to the racial abuse that occurred during the match on April 8th, as well as the inadequate response put forward by the New York Red Bulls and Major League Soccer," the groups said in a joint statement Friday. "It is the position of the South Ward that we will not provide active, in-stadium support at Red Bull Arena until Dante Vanezir and (Red Bulls manager) Gerhard Struber are justly punished and held accountable."

The groups said MLS didn’t live up to his "zero-tolerance policy" when it came to punishing racial actions and called on the organization to sack Struber