Three prominent Austin FC supporters' groups have issued official statements, ahead of the club's next home match this coming Saturday, regarding an incident at the Q2 Stadium-hosted Sept. 26 match between Austin FC and San Diego FC.
Though the issue pertaining to the supporters centers on what is permissible expression inside an MLS stadium, the origin of the controversy comes from a U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shooting and wounding Wilber Garcés Pérez on Sept. 20 in North Austin — an incident that has received significant local and even national media attention.
Los Verdes and La Murga de Austin issued a joint statement published on the Los Verdes site's blog and on its Instagram account in both English and Spanish, while Austin Anthem issued its own statement, both responding to the treatment of Daniela Silva, a fan who attended the match wearing an "Abolish ICE" shirt but was not allowed to remain in the stadium.
Silva, a 2022 Austin City Council candidate, documented the incident via multiple posts on her Instagram account.
Shortly following the incident — and responding in part to fan reports of security staff telling them ICE agents were inside Q2 Stadium during the match — the club issued this statement:
On Saturday, we engaged in a respectful conversation with an individual who was not in compliance with Q2 Stadium policy. We provided the option of receiving a complimentary T-shirt to remain compliant with the policy or to leave the venue. The situation was handled in accordance with the venue’s matchday policies.
Despite reports to the contrary, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has not been present at Q2 Stadium during matches including last Saturday night. We can also confirm that ICE does not use Austin FC’s offices or facilities.
The controversy — reflected in where the two SG statements bifurcate — centers on a section of the MLS Fan Code of Conduct, revised in 2020 by the league following consultation with the Independent Supporters Council (ISC), as well as members of Timbers Army and Emerald City Supporters.
The reworking of the Code of Conduct was in response to a 2019 controversy involving the Iron Front flag, which as the Guardian explained, was "a symbol that was first used by an anti-Nazi paramilitary group in the 1930s" displayed by Timbers fans.
The league issued a ban on the flag that season and then rescinded it later that season; at the time of the league's reversal, MLS president Mark Abbott announced a workgroup including supporters' group leaders would reexamine the Code.
Per its February 2020 press release, the league announced:
The revisions include a clarification of the conduct, signage and language that is not permitted at league events during the upcoming season, including:
Displaying signs, symbols, images, using language or making gestures that are threatening, abusive, or discriminatory, including on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, ability, and/or sexual orientation.
Displaying signs, symbols or images for commercial purposes or for electioneering, campaigning or advocating for or against any candidate, political party, legislative issue, or government action.
"This new language is a significant, positive step in the relationship between the fans and the league they support,” said Bailey Brown, ISC president, in a statement shared in the same press release. “We want to thank the MLS officials for consulting with the ISC in developing this language for 2020 and beyond, and we’re looking forward to continuing our dialogue on the interactions between fans, teams, players, and the league.”
The Los Verdes/La Murga de Austin statement
The Los Verdes/La Murga de Austin statement reads in full:
What happened at Q2 on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, was unacceptable.
On Hispanic Heritage Night, an Austin FC fan was wearing an Abolish ICE shirt and refused to cover her shirt or leave the stadium - a shirt she had been permitted to enter the stadium wearing. Los Verdes and La Murga de Austin disagree with treating that message as prohibited political speech under the MLS Fan Code of Conduct.
Just six days earlier, a Venezuelan member of our Austin community was shot by an ICE officer. Opposition to ICE is not an abstract political debate for many of our members and neighbors. It is about what is happening here, in our community, and about their safety, dignity, and ability to move through it without fear.
In the days since, members of our community have questioned whether they feel safe and welcome returning to Q2.
That should matter to Austin FC. The club has a responsibility to communicate clearly that our Hispanic and immigrant communities are welcome and safe at Q2.
Our Hispanic and immigrant communities are not a theme, a marketing campaign, or something to celebrate only when it is easy. If their culture is part of this club’s identity, their safety and belonging must be part of that commitment too.
Los Verdes and La Murga de Austin believe soccer is for everyone. We believe in creating a home where our Hispanic and immigrant neighbors are safe, welcome, and protected — especially when that commitment is tested.
Austin FC must examine the policies governing security, law enforcement, and fan conduct, and how those policies are enforced, to ensure Q2 lives up to that promise.
We also call on MLS to revise its Fan Code of Conduct so that rules intended to limit political campaigning are not used to silence supporters speaking out about the safety, dignity, and rights of their communities.
Q2 is our home. Everyone who calls it home should be able to feel that they belong there.
The Austin Anthem statement
Austin Anthem's statement reads in full:
What happened at Q2 last weekend was concerning.
On Hispanic Heritage Night, an Austin FC supporter was removed and banned after refusing to remove an “Abolish ICE” shirt. While Austin FC believes they adhered to their interpretation of the MLS Code of Conduct, we feel that particular message being prohibited hits too close to home in this current climate.
Just six days earlier, a Venezuelan member of our Austin community was shot by an ICE officer. Opposition to ICE is not an abstract political debate for many of our members and neighbors. It is about what is happening here, in our community, and about their safety, dignity, and ability to move through it without fear.
In the days since, members of our community have questioned whether they feel safe and welcome returning to Q2.
That should matter to Austin FC.
Our Hispanic and immigrant communities are not a theme, a marketing campaign, or something to celebrate only when it is easy. If their culture is part of this club’s identity, their safety and belonging must be part of that commitment too.
Soccer is for everyone. We believe in creating a home where our Hispanic and immigrant neighbors are safe, welcome, and protected - especially when that commitment is tested.
Q2 is our home. Everyone who calls it home should be able to feel that they belong there.
It's noteworthy that, though both statements are similar, only the Los Verdes/Murga statement specifically calls on the league to change its Code of Conduct so that "rules intended to limit political campaigning are not used to silence supporters speaking out about the safety, dignity, and rights of their communities."
Austin Anthem board member and former president Tony Cardone believes that, based on last year's anti-ICE protests by LAFC fans, the league sees "Abolish ICE" messaging as a violation of the Code of Conduct, and that any changes should involve supporters from around the league.
"We aren’t necessarily onboard with a call to change the Code of Conduct to permit such language without a better understanding of why the original language was chosen, and an agreement with other supporter groups across the league about what change would be needed," he said. "Each group has a different operating environment and we shouldn’t presume to know what language is best for all of them. Even minor changes in that Code of Conduct could have a serious rippling effect."
Per ISC's official site, Austin Anthem is the only Austin FC supporters' group in the coalition, which includes supporters groups representing some subset of all 30 MLS teams plus other North American soccer leagues.
Austin supporters not part of Austin Anthem indicated on background that Los Verdes and LMdA purposefully remain outside of ISC membership due to a variety of disagreements with ISC governance restricting, among other things, the language of public statements.
Cardone adds that supporters are discussing possible in-stadium actions to be taken during Saturday's home match against Nashville SC in the interest of reinforcing the shared messaging in the dual statements. Due to the international break, Verde has not played since the Sept. 26 home match.
Three prominent Austin FC supporters' groups have issued official statements, ahead of the club's next home match this coming Saturday, regarding an incident at the Q2 Stadium-hosted Sept. 26 match between Austin FC and San Diego FC.
Though the issue pertaining to the supporters centers on what is permissible expression inside an MLS stadium, the origin of the controversy comes from a U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shooting and wounding Wilber Garcés Pérez on Sept. 20 in North Austin — an incident that has received significant local and even national media attention.
Los Verdes and La Murga de Austin issued a joint statement published on the Los Verdes site's blog and on its Instagram account in both English and Spanish, while Austin Anthem issued its own statement, both responding to the treatment of Daniela Silva, a fan who attended the match wearing an "Abolish ICE" shirt but was not allowed to remain in the stadium.
Silva, a 2022 Austin City Council candidate, documented the incident via multiple posts on her Instagram account.
Shortly following the incident — and responding in part to fan reports of security staff telling them ICE agents were inside Q2 Stadium during the match — the club issued this statement:
The controversy — reflected in where the two SG statements bifurcate — centers on a section of the MLS Fan Code of Conduct, revised in 2020 by the league following consultation with the Independent Supporters Council (ISC), as well as members of Timbers Army and Emerald City Supporters.
The reworking of the Code of Conduct was in response to a 2019 controversy involving the Iron Front flag, which as the Guardian explained, was "a symbol that was first used by an anti-Nazi paramilitary group in the 1930s" displayed by Timbers fans.
The league issued a ban on the flag that season and then rescinded it later that season; at the time of the league's reversal, MLS president Mark Abbott announced a workgroup including supporters' group leaders would reexamine the Code.
Per its February 2020 press release, the league announced:
"This new language is a significant, positive step in the relationship between the fans and the league they support,” said Bailey Brown, ISC president, in a statement shared in the same press release. “We want to thank the MLS officials for consulting with the ISC in developing this language for 2020 and beyond, and we’re looking forward to continuing our dialogue on the interactions between fans, teams, players, and the league.”
The Los Verdes/La Murga de Austin statement
The Los Verdes/La Murga de Austin statement reads in full:
The Austin Anthem statement
Austin Anthem's statement reads in full:
It's noteworthy that, though both statements are similar, only the Los Verdes/Murga statement specifically calls on the league to change its Code of Conduct so that "rules intended to limit political campaigning are not used to silence supporters speaking out about the safety, dignity, and rights of their communities."
Austin Anthem board member and former president Tony Cardone believes that, based on last year's anti-ICE protests by LAFC fans, the league sees "Abolish ICE" messaging as a violation of the Code of Conduct, and that any changes should involve supporters from around the league.
"We aren’t necessarily onboard with a call to change the Code of Conduct to permit such language without a better understanding of why the original language was chosen, and an agreement with other supporter groups across the league about what change would be needed," he said. "Each group has a different operating environment and we shouldn’t presume to know what language is best for all of them. Even minor changes in that Code of Conduct could have a serious rippling effect."
Per ISC's official site, Austin Anthem is the only Austin FC supporters' group in the coalition, which includes supporters groups representing some subset of all 30 MLS teams plus other North American soccer leagues.
Austin supporters not part of Austin Anthem indicated on background that Los Verdes and LMdA purposefully remain outside of ISC membership due to a variety of disagreements with ISC governance restricting, among other things, the language of public statements.
Cardone adds that supporters are discussing possible in-stadium actions to be taken during Saturday's home match against Nashville SC in the interest of reinforcing the shared messaging in the dual statements. Due to the international break, Verde has not played since the Sept. 26 home match.
Read Next
Nothing Eze about it: What the Eze Onuoha transfer report says about building Austin FC (and Austin FC II)
Eze Onuoha is a 17-year-old defensive midfielder from Finland who could be Austin FC's next signing. But will he first be a mainstay for Austin FC II? And given his reported transfer fee, is that smart roster building?
How is possession changing for the new-look Austin FC?
Austin FC's possession numbers and xG values haven't been sterling in 2026. But the changes made under Davy Arnaud are perceptible and bearing out in the numbers, per one analyst.
Going back to Cali: Reading the tea leaves on the 2027 Coachella Valley Invitational invite
Austin FC announced that it will be playing the 2027 Coachella Valley Invitational — its fourth straight appearance at the tournament. Here's what we learned about that, and by extension, the sprint season.
'I couldn't be more proud of it': Taking in the 'emotional journey' of Austin FC's three-goal comeback
Resiliency is the word of the day, as Austin FC rallied from a three-goal deficit to draw San Diego FC and stay in the playoff race. Despite an eight-match unbeaten streak, the postseason could hinge on beating MLS' best team.