A new Crew star is Palestinian — fans can't fly his flag
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The Crew's big summer signing is Palestinian, and a leaguewide MLS policy will bar Columbus fans from celebrating his heritage at their stadium.
Why it matters: Wessam Abou Ali is the presumed new star of the Crew attack, a striker who represents the marquee signing fans have clamored for since Cucho Hernández's departure in February.
- Now, those fans are seeking an exception to the rule ahead of Abou Ali's arrival, which comes as MLS tries to avoid controversy related to the war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Catch up quick: The Crew recently announced Abou Ali's signing in a reported $8.5 million transfer from Al Ahly, the biggest club in Egypt.
- Depending on bonuses, he could be the team's second-most expensive signing ever. Born in Denmark to Palestinian parents, he debuted for the Palestinian national team last year.
- Abou Ali can appear for the Crew when his P-1 visa is processed later this summer, according to the team.
Flashback: Shortly after the war in Gaza began in October 2023, MLS issued a "temporary measure" banning in-stadium signs, banners, flags and tifos that reference the ongoing conflict, per The Athletic.
Zoom in: That measure also placed "a moratorium on allowing new country flags into stadiums," league spokesperson Lauren Hayes has confirmed to Axios.
- Asked directly if Crew fans would be permitted to bring Palestinian flags in support of Abou Ali, Hayes declined to answer.
Yes, but: Hayes says "there's a process in place" for supporters groups to ask teams to permit new flags in a stadium, which the team can pass on to MLS for approval.
- Leadership of Columbus' Nordecke fan group told Axios they've requested to the team's fan liaison that they be allowed to bring Palestinian flags to the stadium.
- A Crew spokesperson didn't answer an Axios inquiry as to whether the team would make that request to the league office, and said the team had "no specifics to share at this time."
Context: Israeli striker Tai Baribo is the Philadelphia Union's leading goal scorer.
- Hayes says Israel flags are allowed at Philadelphia's Subaru Park because he was signed in August of 2023, before the new policy was enacted.
Between the lines: Crew fans have frequently brought flags of new players' home countries to games without pushback, spokesperson Collin Hill tells Axios.
- Last year, Algerian flags were allowed when Canadian-born defender Mo Farsi chose to represent the Algerian national team, Hill says.
- In March, dozens of fans were allowed to bring Ukraine flags into the Nordecke as a show of support for Ukrainian defender Yevhen Cheberko, who was signed in 2023.
What they're saying: Morgan Hughes, a longtime Crew support organizer and founder of the #SavetheCrew movement, tells Axios that Crew fans' activism is in the team's DNA.
- "Ownership using our passion when it advances their monetary agenda and then outright banning it when it makes them uncomfortable isn't just the height of hypocrisy, it's a direct betrayal of the spirit of Columbus. Shame on them."