Phoenix Rising FC coach Rick Schantz issued a statement Wednesday night after he was caught on video appearing to downplay the alleged use of a homophobic slur from one of his players.
"At the start of halftime of the Phoenix Rising FC match with San Diego Loyal FC, I was heard on video asking San Diego's Head Coach Landon Donovan how long he has been part of soccer," Schantz posted on Twitter. "My question was in reference to Donovan's behavior on the field with the referee, and in no way was I excusing any alleged homophobic behavior from my players."
https://t.co/qozqo9oih5 pic.twitter.com/x9AALKbL2T
— Rick Schantz (@RickSchantz1) October 1, 2020
Schantz, a Tucson native and Salpointe Catholic High School graduate, is a co-founder of FC Tucson, Phoenix Rising's top minor-league affiliate. He coached the Men in Black from 2010-16 before joining Rising as an assistant coach. He was named interim head coach in June 2018, and assumed the permanent job before the 2019 season.
The incident in question occurred at San Diego's Torero Stadium Wednesday in the USL Championship match between Phoenix Rising FC and San Diego Loyal FC.
Late in stoppage time of the first half the referee — who later admitted confusion over who used the slur and what was said — showed an eventually rescinded red card to Loyal midfielder Collin Martin, who is openly gay.
Loyal players immediately swarmed the referee in protest.
"Ref, you got it wrong," one player could be heard in video from the match.
As the ref explained what happened to Donovan and Rising FC coach Rick Schantz, a San Diego player approached Schantz: "Coach, your player called my gay teammate a (expletive) boy."
Donovan, visibly upset while learning the information, told Schantz "this is beyond soccer." To which Schantz replied, "Come on, man, don't make a big scene."
"We have to get this out of our game," Donovan said.
"It's got nothing to do with racism," Schantz responded.
Donovan said: "It's not racism, they're calling him gay. It's homophobia."
"They're competing," Schantz said.
The San Diego Loyal walked off the field in protest Wednesday night, saying a Phoenix Rising player used an anti-gay slur directed at openly-gay midfielder Collin Martin.Manager Landon Donovan discussed the incident with the referee and Phoenix head coach Rick Schantz. pic.twitter.com/WlOYauQhgV
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 1, 2020
San Diego Loyal FC forfeited the USL Championship match, which they were leading at the time, 3-1.
Rising FC forward Junior Flemmings later issued a statement acknowledging that he was the Phoenix player accused of using the slur, but strongly denying that he did.
“At no point did I say a homophobic slur towards Collin Martin. I do not know Collin personally, but I respect all of my opponents equally, Collin included,'' Flemming said, in a statement posted on Twitter.
“I am disappointed by San Diego’s actions this evening as I have been mauled and ridiculed online with no opportunity to defend myself.’’
— Junior”Flemmo”Flemmings (@Flemmo_77) October 1, 2020
The league issued a statement:
“We are aware of the alleged use of a homophobic slur in tonight’s match between San Diego Loyal SC and Phoenix Rising FC. Foul and abusive language of any type has absolutely no place in our society and will not be tolerated in USL matches,'' the league statement said. "An investigation is currently underway to determine the facts surrounding the incident and more information will be provided as soon as it is available.”
Donovan sounded off on the incident in a video posted by the team's Twitter account late Wednesday.
"Our guys, to their immense credit, just said, 'We're not going to stand for this,'" Donovan said. "They were very clear in that moment that they were giving up all hopes of making the playoffs, even though they were beating one of the best teams in the league, handily. But they said that doesn't matter. There's things more important in life and we have to stick up for what we believe in. And so they made the decision to walk off.
"The players, in the heart of the moment, in the passion of the moment, still wanted to play. They were kicking Phoenix's ass, and that's a great feeling as a soccer player. But if we want to be true to who we are as a club, we have to speak and we have to act."
Phoenix Rising FC released a statement saying "Phoenix Rising is investigating the claim of a homophobic slur being used by one its players who has vehemently denied these allegations. Phoenix Rising stands with the USL in rejecting and punishing any homophobic behavior."
