The Fire revoked tickets for Sector Latino after it "exhibited a history of unacceptable conduct"GETTY IMAGES
Toyota Park for the Revolution-Fire match on Saturday was "void of the usual chanting, singing and musical accompaniment that separates soccer from other live sporting events" due to the home team "revoking tickets" to the Sector Latino supporter group, according to Guillermo Rivera of THE ATHLETIC. Both Section 8 in the “Harlem end” of Toyota Park and section 101, the area occupied by Sector Latino at the opposite end of the field, "were mostly vacant." In a show of "solidarity and disagreement with the ban, most Section 8 Chicago members decided not to attend the match." The Fire maintain that Sector Latino has "exhibited a history of unacceptable conduct over the last 14 months and, as a result, the group received multiple warnings leading to expulsion." Following a fight in the parking lot between Sector Latino members and Dynamo supporters May 20, the Fire "issued written correspondence to the group stating that a 'final' warning was being implemented and any further conduct deemed to be contrary to the fan code of conduct would result in a revocation of their recognition as a supporters group." On June 2, the "same date that the 'final warning' letter was issued" to Sector Latino, the Fire hosted the Earthquakes. According to Walter Arredondo, a Sector Latino leader, someone ignited several smoke bombs "within the section." On June 7, the Fire "issued a letter to Sector Latino advising them that the smoke bomb incident violated the fan code of conduct and initial evidence linked the behavior to them" (THEATHLETIC.com, 6/12).
