With five MLS Cup victories and nine appearances in the big game, the LA Galaxy’s dominance in American soccer was undeniable. At least a decade ago it was.
With ten years since their last title win, cheating allegations, and supporter-led protests of the club, retrieving this dominance seemed almost impossible in 2023.
Supporters’ groups are fans, usually in soccer, who chant, drum, and wave flags to help their club win a match. The LA Galaxy has four: the Angel City Brigade, Galaxians, Galaxy Outlawz, and LA Riot Squad. In 2023, there was a fifth group called Ghosts Ultras Galaxy, though they have since ceased operations.
In January of last year, the Angel City Brigade, Galaxy Outlawz, and LA Riot Squad posted a joint graphic onto social media. The graphic was co-signed by all three groups alongside the Galaxians and Ghosts Ultras Galaxy who agreed to boycott the club until president Chris Klein was fired. This decision came for reasons both on and off the field.
Chris Klein was the president of the LA Galaxy from 2013-2023. In that time, the Galaxy claimed its only ever last-place league finish, the club missed the playoffs more times than it had in its history, and the front office was found guilty of cheating roster rules. If this wasn’t enough for supporters to crack, Klein was also accused of lying to supporters and letting nepotism influence his hires.
Klein would officially be fired on May 30, 2023. All groups would return for the next home match. In this way, the protests will go down as an unequivocal success.
at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., Saturday, Mar. 18, 2023. (Photo/Bruce Martin)
For those participating, there would be no entry into the Galaxy’s stadium or purchase of official Galaxy merchandise until Chris Klein was relieved of his duties.
The groups made Major League Soccer history. Protests are not uncommon in soccer in other parts of the world, but this was the first time a stadium boycott had been conducted in MLS. Regardless of the results, the moment was indicative of a changing landscape among supporters in the league.
Typically, During preseason and early in the regular season, groups appeared outside the stadium to chant. In this particular year, “We want Klein out,” rang loud enough to be heard inside the stadium gates.
Confused cheers would come from those attending the match, at first not understanding that protestors felt poor results from the LA Galaxy for one season would be better than another five with Klein. These poor results came quickly.
10 matches into the year, the Galaxy had won only one game, with home games featuring an awkward silence when outside anti-Klein chants quieted. But, outside the gates, crowds dwindled.
Arguments over which groups were showing up to protests began. By the eleventh match of the year, supporters were back in the stadium on May 14, 2023. Only the Angel City Brigade returned; the other four remained in protest. This complicated the situation further as the Angel City Brigade was the biggest of the five groups.
Angel City Brigade members, John Figueroa and Juan Veloz, pointed out that the decision was made through a vote.
Veloz said, “Whatever our members voted for, that’s what I’m going to go with.” But not everyone agreed with this justification.
Carlisa Perdomo Morales, a member of the Galaxians, said, “Many were of the opinion going back early felt like a slap in the face.”
LA Riot Squad president, Andrew “Samoa Bob” Alesana said the situation “broke all trust.”
The hope of less division is not lost. Angel City Brigade member since 2009, Glenn Vidrio, said, “I would like to think…that nothing is ever set in stone; however, it has been different, it has been awkward…there were some real, real, real bad things said, there was some real damage made. It’ll take olive branches from every side to fix it.” Adding, “I think over time things will get better…you still see so much crossover, which will always happen because you have friends on all sides.”
With Klein ousted and a tumultuous 2023 over with, fans were eager to see what would come of the Galaxy in their first season without their old president. Through five games the club is yet to lose and sit second in the MLS Western Conference.
What else this first season without Klein may hold will still have to be seen. But the signs of a real turnaround are finally there for MLS’ most storied club.