Flamengo's Under-17 team has withdrawn from the GA Cup and will not participate in the third-place match, MLS Next announced on Sunday. The decision came after a contentious semifinal against the Philadelphia Union, where accusations of misconduct violating tournament rules, including the use of discriminatory language, were made.
Following the semifinal, which the Union won 2-0, tournament organizers MLS Next initiated an investigation into the alleged misconduct. Flamengo opted to withdraw from the tournament rather than await the investigation results, citing concerns over the reported racial insults directed at some of their players.
In a statement, Flamengo expressed strong disapproval of the incident and emphasized that racism is a crime that must be severely punished. The club reported the case to MLS and decided not to compete for third place, highlighting the importance of eradicating prejudice, especially in youth sports.
This incident is not isolated, as there have been previous instances of discriminatory language used by players from various teams at the GA Cup. The New York Red Bulls had also withdrawn their U15 and U17 teams from the tournament due to similar issues.
MLS Next, the organization overseeing youth competitions, confirmed Flamengo's withdrawal from the GA Cup match and stated that an investigation is ongoing. The league expressed deep concern over the recent on-field abuse and reiterated its commitment to maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment for all participants.
MLS Next is currently reviewing its protocols for handling cases of discriminatory language during matches. The organization provides immediate resources to all involved following any allegations of misconduct.
International teams participating in the tournament were briefed on prohibited language prior to the event. MLS Next conducted individual and group meetings to ensure all teams were aware of the rules and expectations regarding respectful conduct.
