Help please - from those who were in Montreal

[English Rachel]

Hello

It's taken me a couple of days to get to this because every time I think about what happened, I get into another state of panic. This is regarding us being penned in the tunnel after the game.

I need your help on 2 counts.

The first, I need to find a (very kind) woman with curly dark hair, who had a 1-2 year old son that was wearing blue ear protectors and she was also there with her husband. Any leads would be greatly appreciated as I have to thank her profusely for looking after me.

The second, a guy brought a phone number to the lady that helped me and said he had the whole thing on video if I wanted to press charges. I then misplaced that phone number but would really like to have the videos as I have decided that, whilst I really don't want to relive what happened, something needs to be said and done about it.

I guess I need one more piece of help, too. What do I do here? How do I make sure that it doesn't happen again? I was absolutely terrified for my own and everyone else's safety and what started as frustration from everyone for not being allowed to go to the toilet, soon turned into panic. I read the rules that said we would be held for 20 min after the game - nowhere did it say held at seats. The away fans section concourse was fenced in, why weren't we allowed there where it was safer to hold that many people? Do I complain to TFC and have them help? Olympic Stadium? The security firm? The Impact FO?

Thanks so much, in advance

R

[Mateo1985]

Hey sorry for saying this but are you the girl who was punched in the face by a Montreal supporter? If so one of my friends wearing everything black was there with you. Let me know if that's the case and I'll connect you two.

[Phil]

Not sure what happened, but I hope you get the info you need to sort it out Rachel. If you want, PM me the details and I can raise the issue with Front office and the Impact / MLS. Montreal make the rules that apply to away crowds ingress and egress procedures.

[charlieocc]

I heard that the reason we were held in seats and not allowed out to the concourse was because Montreal fans hopped the barrier and were waiting for us. If true that's a pretty poor job by security

[BelfastBoy]

This sounds like Euro 2016 when the Russian and English hooligans went at it.

[DinamoTFC]

What happened in the tunnel? Must have missed this at the game.

I'd love to throw anything in montreal's face as they continue to play victim and turn a blind eye to their "angels".

[WestStandGeoff]

Sorry, but any chance you can give more details about what happened? I was waiting down in 151 for us to be allowed out, oblivious to whatever was happening to you in the tunnel ahead of the rest of us.

[akoto]

Were the couple with the young child both wearing the new white jerseys?

[james]

I think most people weren't even aware what was going on in the concourse hall. Huge majority were still just standing in our seats waiting to be let out. I did not see what happened , but by the sounds of it security was not ready for anything, very disorganized straight from the beginning. Fans were told to arrive at 6pm , 2 hours before kickoff because of security checks. I arrived at 7:15pm because I just thought arriving 2 hours before kickoff (then 30 minute delay) was crazy. Anyways me and friends walked right in quick search, and we were in without even checking our tickets. We could of got in for free if we wanted.

[Red CB Toronto]

I think most people weren't even aware what was going on in the concourse hall. Huge majority were still just standing in our seats waiting to be let out. I did not see what happened , but by the sounds of it security was not ready for anything, very disorganized straight from the beginning. Fans were told to arrive at 6pm , 2 hours before kickoff because of security checks. I arrived at 7:15pm because I just thought arriving 2 hours before kickoff (then 30 minute delay) was crazy. Anyways me and friends walked right in quick search, and we were in without even checking our tickets. We could of got in for free if we wanted.

Yep arrived after 7, a group of about 10 of us, went through security and they did not even check scan tickets. It's like they just wanted to get us in there.

[Phil]

I have put her in touch with Front office for resolution.

[Parkdale]

There is no question in my mind that the league needs to press HARD on Montreal's FO. Not only did they embarrass the league in the most comically inept way (the painted pitch) but they put visiting fans in a dangerous position. This can't just be a slap on the wrist - they need a whole tear-down of their procedures and a rebuild that brings them to a standard they clearly haven't been reaching for.

I used to hate Columbus for their bullshit FO mistakes (like the pepper spray, etc) but Montreal is by far a worse (stupider) situation.

[Phil]

Its funny how whenever away fans act out on the road punishment is put in place either on the offending group or on the fan base as a whole - something we have all seen in abundance this year.

However complete recklessness by a home teams front office to protect paying customers to their facility seems to go completely unnoticed by the league. We had the same issues in Columbus and had to ramp down road support as a result (to that venue). That all being said, its thankfully on a couple incidents I am hearing about and stuff like this can happen especially in playoffs and away. We all have to look out for one another.

[Red4ever]

I was a little too heated when they held us so for my language I apologize to those within ear shot, that being said, in a weird way I'm relieved to know that others were seeing what I was seeing.

There is never any excuse to pen people in for 25 minutes, (while ignoring their safety from flying projectiles while they are there) and then OPEN UP ONE GATE WHILE LEAVING THE OTHERS CLOSED.

The fact that security didn't even check my ticket tells me they were not ready for this. One thing goes wrong and this leads every news broadcast in the country.

[samuraizero]

I know the guy who handed you his phone number.
Contacted him to get in touch

[English Rachel]

I know the guy who handed you his phone number.
Contacted him to get in touch

Thank you so very much - 6476804974 is my number or he can email me at rachel.finan@hays.com

I will let you all know exactly what happened soon.. it's still pretty hard to talk about it. Thanks everyone.

[Soccer Mum]

Sorry to hear that.

The Montreal fans must be dealt with and barred from attending any more games.

[james]

MLS overall just isn't ready for away support. Teams don't even seem to help sell away tickets, for example we usually have to call away team box office, then sometimes wait a few days for any response. Where in England for example 3,000 seats would be given to away travelling fans ticket sales management, in which they would sell the tickets to "season ticket holders" first, then "partial ticket packs" and then to the "general public" , pretty similar to how we might sell our season tickets at home. But rather simple procedure, but here away day it's like a free for all who knows how many seats, when tickets will be released exc, exc. Then you add in security not being prepared. Europe away fans often have big escorts to and from the game, now I am not saying we are as bad as many Europe Ultra hooligans, I don't think we need a big escort, but a small one after the game would of been rather simple you'd think. I mean we had a couple thousand of us leaving the stadium, you'd think maybe 5-10 security might lead us towards at least the subway station until we all got out onto the metro train. I didn't notice any security leading us anywhere after the game. Felt like gates open "ok byeee" . In other sports that's fine , but soccer fans are different and MLS teams often seem to not be aware of what could happen.

[jabbronies]

I think the league needs to work with teams that historically have away fans travelling in large numbers (Cascadia; Toronto vs Montreal; NY vs NYC) and come up with a procedure for selling away tickets - a template that can be used by any team.

[Phil]

The real issue is that due to the variance within the league in terms of markets - they let individual teams determine how they handle away support and have no real visiting supporter rules handed down. It's best effort on behalf of team and venue.

We do it the biggest of all the teams considering NY cap the support as do the Cascadian teams. Funny how there are not many issues to visiting support here in Toronto yet our model (as done by an ex Celtic supporter) isn't used, most markets use MLB practices for their away support.

[English Rachel]

I have the photos and the stuff I need to go further with this. Thank you everyone. I am going to wait to do anything until after the game tomorrow - I want to focus on that

#allforone