The growth of Major League Soccer (MLS) has been well documented over the last five years. With the addition of several expansion teams in the past decade, MLS is making a serious push to be considered one of the premier soccer leagues in the world in upcoming years. With expansion, come new fans, new stadiums, and new headaches.

The recent injection of European talent, albeit it “old” European talent, is bringing a new, more widely spread interest in MLS as a whole. The new interest means new fans from all walks of life taking interest in a league that many believed would have failed long ago.

One of the newest franchises added to the MLS schedule is New York City FC (NYCFC). In their rookie season, NYCFC currently plays their scheduled home matches at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx while they look to find a permanent home in the NY-metro area. The Bronx has been the home of the New York Yankees since 1923 and now that home is shared by one of the most anticipated expansion teams in MLS history.

NYCFC has made an immediate impact on the MLS, not only is one of the largest sporting markets now “pot committed” to the league, but the addition of European Legends such as David Villa, Frank Lampard, and now Andrea Pirlo, NYCFC may tout one of the stoutest rosters of designated players in the MLS. Adding these legends will not only ensure that NYCFC has a solid supporter base for years to come, but will also have residual effects on opposing teams ticket sales when NYCFC travels to their respective stadiums.

But what are the negatives surrounding the new addition of NYCFC and their inevitable spotlight in one of the greatest cities in the country? If you are unaware of what has been happening in New York City in recent months and years, the NYPD is under extreme scrutiny due to controversial and sometimes fatal actions and cases that have been put under the microscope of the national news. Additionally, the recent mayoral race resulting in a change of leadership in NYC has not been viewed as favorably by the NYPD and thus has resulted in a slight backlash between the powers that be and the police. This, along with large and boisterous crowds mixed with the potential alcohol consumption may result in bad decisions by supporters and police alike.

For NYCFC, the supporter’s groups that have been created has served as the backbone of their fan base since day one; if you ever have any question about who these supporter’s groups are feel free to tune into a NYCFC match and look to left field of Yankee Stadium and you will see the droves of supporters chanting throughout the full 90 minutes.

Like most clubs, NYCFC has several new grassroots supporter groups that took hold in the inaugural season in NY. But with most growth and expansion there will always be growing pains, and NYCFC is no exception as supporter groups continue to make headlines post positive and negative.

The largest supporter group is “The Third Rail” (TTR), this group is the closest to the NYCFC front office and is often influenced by their decisions. Case in point is the way in which the front office would like the fans to celebrate, cheer, and essentially how to act during each match. The Third Rail is an example of what a supporter group shouldn’t be as they take instruction from the front office and the culture is somewhat forced in a city that favors baseball and hockey to soccer. TTR is simply an extension of the front office and thus is a watered down supporter group full of “fan boy” soccer fans who are more interested in labels than true support.

For those of you unaware of what “fan boys” soccer fans are, imagine the type of person who enjoys being in your face about their views or their cause. The type of fan who is always right and will argue their team or player is the best until their blue in the face. These fans are also the first to start a ruckus yet cry foul if they end up getting a black eye.

Now don’t misconstrue that statement, this writer is not identifying the entire TTR supporter group as this, there are always bad apples in a bushel. But the bottom line is that the front office influence and creation of TTR reinforces that the supporter group aspect of TTR is at the discretion of the NYCFC front office and what they believe to be the best for the club and fan base.

Two other prolific supporter groups are the Brown Bag Supporters Club (BBSC) and Hearts of Oak (HoO), both of which have been at the center of quite a bit of controversy so far this season. In comparison to TTR, BBSC and HoO are quite a bit smaller and include the more “die-hard” or “ultra” style soccer fans. These two groups have band together for pre-match revelry, post-match celebrations, and membership initiatives; it can go without saying that the relationship amongst the two smaller SG’s is quite amicable. Yet, why are these two groups constantly being singled out by stadium security (Securitas) and the NYPD?

In NYCFC’s first season there have been numerous altercations between these supporter groups and the TTR which have led to BBSC and HoO members being forcefully removed from the stadium and in some cases, arrested. Why are they constantly being singled out? If you tune into a match or attend one in person, you will witness the raucous yet civil experience of section 238, the home of BBSC and HoO; neighboring the supporter section of TTR, section 238 garners significantly more security presence than that of TTR.

One altercation that has been noted in section 238 was when HoO members were thrown from a game after cursing – now, we aren’t talking the mother of all profanities; we are talking about the least offensive terms. This writer understands wanting to maintain a family friendly environment, but similar to the bleachers at Yankees Stadium, fans know what they are in for when they sit amongst the “bleacher creatures”. Is it fair to forcefully remove a supporter over some of the less vulgar words in the English language?

The drama doesn’t end inside the stadium, HoO and BBSC members have been in the crosshairs of the NYPD since the first match; post-match antics regularly spill out to the streets of the Bronx, yet the only fans penalized for these celebrations seem to belong to one of these two supporter groups.

In one instance, a HoO member was celebrating amongst a group of roughly 100 other fans; singing and dancing under the bridge outside the stadium was soon interrupted by the presence of NYPD officers who singled out one HoO member and one BBSC member who were simply holding a SG flag amongst the masses. Why were these two fans singled out?

Here is this writer’s conspiracy theory, NYCFC along with TTR and the NYPD have identified what group’s they will allow and whom they prefer to remove. The culture created by the front office is extremely well thought out, inoffensive and somewhat politically correct – any and all obstacles or disturbances they may impact this culture are to be immediately removed and reprimanded. Taking it a step further, this writer believes that NYCFC front office and TTR have gone so far as to provide names and identifying colors and symbols of the other supporter groups to ensure the NYPD “get their guy”.

The above conspiracy theory is this writer’s personal and humbled opinion; an opinion that is heavily swayed by the constant corruption that encircles much of our governing parties in the US today. Is it really worth discriminating against likeminded fans with the intention of preserving a specific fan culture? If the conspiracy theory comes out to be accurate, what will that mean for the future of NYCFC in NYC?

Whatever the case may be, NYCFC takes serious issue with the way their fans behave both inside and outside their stadium. Eventually, the overbearing nature of the supporter to club relationship will negatively impact the stadium atmosphere and the overall support of the club. Is it really worth risking the future of one of the most anticipated clubs in MLS history in order to ensure that “fan boy” supporter groups like The Third Rail continue to grow and hold significant standing amongst the fan base?