Sept 3, 2006
Real Salt Lake Owner Blasts Mastroeni And Rapids Following Real Salt Lake's 1-0 loss at home to the Colorado Rapids, Real owner David Checketts released a public statement condemning U.S. international Pablo Mastroeni and the rest of the Rapids for their post-match antics at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The game was a hotly contested affair, as both clubs entered the match competing for the Rocky Mountain Cup -- a rivalry competition between the two MLS franchises. But more importantly they entered the game tied on points, which left them tied for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The only goal of the match was a flash point in and of itself, as the Rapids continued to play on despite a Real player injured on the pitch. Niko Hernandez scored an impressive header, and the teams got into a shoving match when Real protested the goal in vain. Seven yellow cards were issued in the second half following Hernandez's goal.
Then, upon the final whistle, Rapids players celebrated wildly on Real's home pitch, something that did not sit well with the home supporters. Colorado's Pablo Mastroeni ripped off his jersey and swung it around in the air before stuffing it in his shorts and continuing his post-match celebrations. Salt Lake owner David Checketts and other members of the Real front office allegedly confronted Mastroeni and his teammates on the pitch, and things got nastier from there.
Moments ago, Checketts released a statement in which he labeled the Rapids' actions as "appalling" and "obscene."
"We at Real Salt Lake have spent nearly two years building a soccer culture here in Utah, one that characterizes the sport as a unifier of all cultures and holds sportsmanship and respect for the game in the highest regard," reads the opening of Checketts' statement.
"It is especially appalling to me that tonight, as we celebrate Youth Soccer Night, in front of a crowd in excess of 17,000 fans, that a group of players involved in Goal.com - United States - Real Salt Lake Owner Blasts Mastroeni And Rapids would exhibit the obscene behavior towards our fans during and after the Colorado Rapids’ Rocky Mountain Cup celebration.
"We have spent countless hours in recent weeks and months working with the world’s most accomplished club – Real Madrid – to assure them of the character values held in American soccer. I am both outraged and embarrassed that players in this league – especially a World Cup star like Pablo Mastroeni – would engage in obscene behavior towards our fans, and am dismayed that noone from the Colorado organization was present tonight to discourage such boorish behavior.
"This is NOT what this league is about, nor is it representative of what Real Salt Lake or MLS stands for as we provide family-friendly entertainment and spirited competition. I personally will provide video evidence and detailed accounts of what happened here to the league’s highest levels, with the express intent of ensuring that incidents like this do not mar our competition or overshadow our role in this community," Checketts concluded in his statement.
With the loss to the Rapids, coupled with Los Angeles's win over Kansas City on Saturday night, Real suddenly find themselves last place on goal differential in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
