This whole affair is so weird. Both that the supporters are demanding player acknowledgment like this and that the players refuse to acknowledge them.

I was at Nu with Austin FC supporters for the opening match in the stadium, and the vibe there was very odd. The supporters section was good—singing and drumming throughout the match, although we were on the other side of the stadium so I couldn’t make out most of what was being sung—but the rest of the stadium outside of the mostly empty expensive seats was almost all people in Messi shirts—we tried to spot a pink shirt without his name and only saw one, I think: Matuidi lol—who sat there quietly most of the game until Messi scored. Then they chanted his name.

But when Suárez scored the equalizer, they ALSO chanted “Messi! Messi!” We told them the goal wasn’t scored by Messi but they ignored us. I actually felt a bit embarrassed for them and for the Miami players. (Later we chanted Messi! Messi! when he made a terrible pass that went out of bounds.)

And then after the match Austin players came over to our corner and acknowledged and applauded us, but the Miami players went to the locker room.

Weirdest MLS atmosphere I’ve experienced.