Timbers Army - Controversy

Controversy

In late August 2005, The Oregonian ran an article that criticized the Army's use of profanity in their chants. In this instance, then-General Manager Jim Taylor stated that "People should not come to a sporting event or any event and have to listen to this kind of language.... There is no explaining away the actions of that group. It's unacceptable."

Sports columnist for The Oregonian, John Canzano, received a copy of an email in May 2009 that had been sent to the Timbers front office from a family who had attended a Timbers match at PGE Park. The family, who likened the Timbers Army to hooligans in the letter, were turned off by the Army's use of foul language and called the group "a bunch of angry white guys tanked up on liquor." An email exchange between the family and Timbers owner Merritt Paulson followed, which Canzano published in his column. Paulson did not condone the profanity but did say: "the Timbers Army is far from being made up of hooligans and MLS soccer teams would be ecstatic to have a supporters groups like the TA which provides an authentic soccer ambience second to none in the US".

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