Why MLS and EPL Fans Don’t Like Each Other

Chaz Bing

Last summer I was on vacation with my family, strolling on a peaceful lakeside boardwalk and enjoying the warm breeze, when I noticed an approaching jogger glaring at me —- or rather — at my Arsenal jersey. That’s when I noticed he was also wearing a jersey, but I couldn’t recognize the colors or team seal. As he approached, his derisive eyes were so cold and hard that I expected shooting rays of ice to zoom out and encase me in some sort of evil immovable freeze. As he bounced past wearing some ridiculously colorful Nike shoes, I instinctively shielded my baby and wondered if my wife was still carrying her pepper spray. That’s when he sneered at me.

As I watched him continue to burn calories down the path, I saw the team name on the back of the jersey: “Sporting Kansas City.”

That’s when it clicked; this guy hates Arsenal because he’s a fan of Sporting Kansas City?! Fortunately, my family didn’t notice the incident (only soccer fanatics view every aspect of their lives through the lens of futbol).

I learned two things that day: 1) Kansas City had a soccer team and 2) Major League Soccer fans hate English Premier League fans.

Thus, America can be divided into two general soccer demographics: those who love Major League Soccer…and the EPL fans who think it’s the worst professional soccer league in the world (besides the token Barcelona and Real Madrid fans). The reasons for this mutual hate are varied and vague, but here are a few theories.

Theory #1: MLS fans have an inferiority complex

Let’s face it, even though the MLS is good and getting better, it still hasn’t approached the Premier League’s level of quality. Major League Soccer has a reputation for being a retirement home for veteran players (David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane), and during the last World Cup the league only produced six players: Jonathan Bornstein (Who?), Landon Donovan (a great player for the Galaxy but a mediocre one for Everton), Edson Buddle (Who?), Robbie Findley (Who?), Roger Espinoza (Who?), and Andrew Boyens (Who?).

MLS fans take pride in their teams (Yes, we all know about Seattle and LA’s “energetic” stadium atmospheres), but they’re also keenly aware that the MLS has a long way to go (It’s only the 10th largest soccer league in the world). Go to any main soccer website, and MLS coverage will be buried behind the EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, and Serie A headlines. And unless Beckham happens to score or be involved in one of his endless transfer rumors, even SportsCenter is more likely to cover Cricket, Rugby, or LaCrosse. Hell, even college sports get more media recognition than the MLS!

If that wasn’t irritating enough, to add salt to an already festering wound, when a network does finally decide to show the rare soccer match, it’s almost always an EPL game. Ouch!

Theory #2: EPL fans have a superiority complex

On the opposite spectrum, American EPL fans are elitists, flaunting the fact that their clubs have been around for over a hundred years, are the biggest in the world, roster the most famous stars, and play for prestigious trophies.

They consider themselves purists because their league has relegation, real hooligans, authentic commentators with genuine English accents, and cozy pubs that serve trendy brews only available in specific regions of the United Kingdom.

A staggering percentage of them proudly wear Manchester United jerseys even though they can’t name three players besides Rooney, Chicharito, and Giggs. They pretend to be British but were born and raised in places like Iowa, and in order to follow their team they wake up in the wee hours of the morning and watch action being played thousands of miles away on a different continent, at a stadium they’ll never visit, watching players they’ll never see in real life (if they can even afford the absurdly expensive soccer cable packages).

EPL fans could care less about the MLS, and they constantly complain that the National Team needs more players competing in Europe. They hated Bruce Arena and think Jurgen Klinsmann is the Soccer Savior that will finally lead the U.S. to glory. Why? Because he’s European! Or more importantly, he’s not American. (Sure, he lives in California, but c’mon, he’s German! Which means he must be a better coach than Arenas ever was.)

Theory #3: The MLS is restricted by a lack of elite competition

Here’s what the EPL, Bundesliga, La Liga, and Serie A have in common: The Europa League and The European Champions League — the world’s two biggest (and best) club tournaments.

The most frustrating thing about being an MLS fan is that the teams never have an opportunity to prove themselves against the world’s best (No, exhibition games and “friendlies” do not count).

This last July, The New York Red Bulls knocked Arsenal out of their own preseason tournament at the Emirates (via an Arsenal own goal). But like all MLS vs. EPL games, the game was a match of little significance. The biggest news of the match was the post-game fury of Arsenal’s boss Arsene Wenger, he was outraged because the refs refused to accommodate his request for Thierry Henry to switch sides during the waning minutes of the match and once again play for the Gunners. Unfortunately, such a comical request reflects the level of seriousness (or lack thereof) that Premier League teams give these matches.

If the MLS ever wants to gain respect, they must find a way to face Europe’s top clubs beyond the context of off-season games that focus more on marketing and entertainment than any serious football competition. The one thing that EPL and MLS fans can agree on is that they’re sick of watching their respective sides participate in meaningless games that have no real value and are half-heartedly played with second-string bench players.

For this to happen, the league’s top officials need to work out a deal with UEFA, and that seems unlikely to happen for at least a few more years. But with a lot of potential television and marketing revenue tempting both sides, working a deal to allow the MLS into Europe’s prestigious tournament’s is more probable with each passing year.

When the MLS does join, all the potential and hypothetical arguments between MLS and EPL fans can finally be tested on a legitimate international stage, and some much-needed mutual respect would finally be earned…for both MLS and EPL fans.

Photo: Luis Antonio Rodríguez Ochoa

Chaz Bing is a writer who loves soccer and has developed many bad habits since becoming an Arsenal fan, namely: biting his fingernails, cursing, smoking, and losing all faith in humanity.

1 Comment

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  By juliano, February 13, 2012 @ 4:00 pm

  hi, I am Brazilian and I know little about this rivalry, but on the question of mls gain respect so there is a solution. the Libertadores Cup. leaders must understand that the only way for them to have respect is doing a good job against South American teams. already want to accept the CONMEBOL teams msl, but their leaders are afraid to participate. well it was only a small example of how to improve the mls in a few years.

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