Thursday presented some significant Toronto FC news. TFC has decided to permanently terminate the Inebriatti's status as a recognized supporters group after the events in Ottawa where flares and an explosive device were used in their away section against the Ottawa Fury. This means that Inebriatti members cannot organize in the south end of BMO Field. They must also take a course on MLS Fan Conduct at their own expense if they want to gain re-entry back into the south end of BMO Field.
This decision has caught me in two minds. I believe it is a harsh punishment because Toronto FC have decided to punish an entire supporters group for the actions of a few people. However, I also believe that this is the right decision for Toronto FC to take, as the supporters group have had a history of disorderly conduct, and have failed to address these issues with the members who have committed these offences.
It is important to highlight the positives that the Inebriatti have brought to the supporters culture of Toronto FC. For the past few years, they have been the most ardent supporters of the club, and you see that in every home game. The Inebriatti have members from all over the world who have brought their football supporting experiences to Toronto. With their singing, flag-waving, and tifos, the Inebriatti have created a visual and audible display of love and devotion for the team that is unlike anything seen before in Major League Soccer. In addition, their numerous charitable efforts have been a boon to the local community.
The Inebriatti's rebellious, unique, and carefree support of the club in the face of rising ticket prices, corporatism, and modern football practices by Toronto FC management is what attracted me to go to section 114 for many home games over the years. To me, they were like a bunch of misfits (I do not mean this in a negative way), and I felt like a misfit in my life in many ways, so I identified with them. Whenever I would go to a TFC home game, I would walk to the stadium with them, and sneak into their section to join in the singing. Their support made me feel alive in a way that other Toronto FC supporters groups could not come close to replicating.
The Inebriatti certainly do have an allure to them that attracts many curious people, but with their style of support, they have also attracted people who became members and who were willing to commit acts of violence and disorderly conduct, putting the safety of others at risk. Toronto FC have given the supporters group plenty of opportunities to police their own members and clean up their behaviour. When the group faced sanctions after they committed property damage to Saputo Stadium during an away match against the Montreal Impact in 2015, they had that opportunity to clean up their behaviour. The group also faced sanctions for lighting flares during the closing minutes of the 2017 MLS Cup Final, and although the group used the flares responsibly, the group broke stadium rules by bringing pyrotechnic devices into the stadium in the first place. The incident in Ottawa last July proved that the Inebriatti failed to properly address the issues that have plagued this group over the years, choosing to protect their own members who have committed these offences, rather than to kick them out when these offences occurred (at least this is my theory). The Ottawa incident left Toronto FC no choice but to permanently ban the group. It seems like there is a no-snitching culture, but I do not believe that this is strictly an Inebriatti problem. It exists within other TFC supporters groups, as well as groups around Major League Soccer.
The Inebriatti have also had issues with season ticket holders sitting at the top of section 114. The patrons at the top of 114 have taken issue with the group's constant flag-waving throughout the match, obstructing their view of the pitch. I believe the patrons at the top of 114 have legitimate concerns, and I think the Inebriatti should have been better receptive to those concerns. However, from my experiences in 114, it seems like many people at the top of that section are only season ticket holders there because the tickets were the cheapest in the stadium, and they do not contribute to the atmosphere, despite sitting in a supporters section. If there was a forming of the Inebriatti (or another similar ultras-style supporters group) around the time of Toronto FC's inception, then I believe these issues would have been non-existent. Both sides have hard-line stances, and I wish there could have been a compromise. In my opinion, it would be reasonable for the Inebriatti to wave their flags during significant moments of matches, rather than the whole match. In addition, with this ban, Toronto FC and BMO Field management need to clarify the supporters’ section rules when it comes to obstructed views and the use of flags.
When I first heard that Toronto FC have permanently banned the Inebriatti, I initially thought that this was a power move by the club to silence any dissenting voices that would protest their policies. On the other hand, in the hours following this news, I reluctantly realized that the club had to make this decision, because of the incidents associated with the group. Toronto FC will frame the narrative in a way that they are trying to promote safety among the supporters, and there is truth to that, but in reality, this was nothing more than a business decision. I think Toronto FC believe that the Inebriatti were tarnishing the reputation of the club, and I am sure they have received some calls from sponsors who were concerned with the group's antics. It's all down to money, and I believe Toronto FC are thinking they can make more money in the long run if they get rid of the group and substitute them with fans who would pay more money for tickets and amenities.
It is sad to see the banning of the Inebriatti in terms of the atmosphere they brought to match days, but I hope a new ultras-style group can rise from the ashes of the Inebriatti. One that can provide ultras-style support for the club (as there is certainly a place for it, despite some ignorant views on the contrary). The majority of Inebriatti members are nothing more than good people who want to watch matches, and support the team as they see fit. This new group will need to exercise maturity, responsibility, and accountability. You can be an ultra inside the stadium, and denounce violence and disorderly conduct. However, I do not believe Toronto FC will be rushing to give official supporters group status to another ultras-style group after their experiences with the Inebriatti.
What does this mean for the rest of the south end at BMO Field? There is no question that there will be a negative effect on the atmosphere at BMO Field. The other TFC groups need to step up and fill the void left in section 114. We will see if the other supporters groups can actually fill that void. I think the south end supporters sections will survive this, but there are a couple of things working against the atmosphere. With the void left in section 114, the supporters groups are too far apart to provide a unified Toronto FC atmosphere. Toronto FC can move the groups closer together, but I find that the different Toronto FC supporters groups are too distinct, and much prefer to do their own thing. In addition, with rising ticket prices, fan disinterest, and growing corporatism at BMO Field, I can see some south end supporters leaving TFC to support the new Canadian Premier League (CPL) teams instead, further weakening the atmosphere.
I also want to address the mudslinging that has been going on with both sides in the wake of this news. Inebriatti members and sympathizers should not be making light of incidents that pose a huge safety risk to the people around them (such as the discharge of an explosive device during the Ottawa away match). On the other side, I find that some of the insults toward the Inebriatti by opponents, criticizers, and members of other TFC supporters groups are completely classless. You can criticize the incidents, and the individuals that commit these incidents, but I think it is unfair to paint all Inebriatti members under the same brush. I feel for the Inebriatti members that had nothing to do with the incidents. Sadly, many closed-minded people who are against the Inebriatti do not understand that there are different ways to support a club, and are dead set on supporting a team a certain way. This is incredibly toxic thinking, and should not have a place with the club. Finally, I will say to both sides that you both do not get to tell others how to support a club. Just support how you want to.
The banning of the Inebriatti ends an interesting chapter in the history of Toronto FC supporter culture. My concern now is that who is going to be able to hold Toronto FC and MLSE to account if they implement policies that negatively affect supporters culture? The Inebriatti were the ones that did that before, but who will pick up that mantle now?
Looks like the south stand of BMO Field will never be the same again.
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