Orlando City lifts Atlanta United supporters group ban

Orlando City SC has lifted the ban levied against Atlanta United supporters’ groups that had prohibited typical privileges following a dispute originating from the teams’ May 13 matchup in Orlando.

In its statement on the Orlando City SC website, the club says that Atlanta United took acceptable action to help identify fans who behaved inappropriately.

Orlando City SC has reinstated the Atlanta United FC organized supporter groups’ privileges at Orlando City Stadium after Atlanta United FC identified and banned the fans that threw objects onto the pitch on May 13.

On May 31, Orlando City announced on its website that the reason for the sanctions was due to “a result of unaddressed misconduct” as it relates to five Atlanta United supporters reported by Orlando City . Atlanta responded by stating the action taken by Orlando City was “unsubstantiated and premature.”

As part of the announcement, Orlando City is also lifting sanctions immediately against its own supporters’ groups. Orlando City had previously implemented a 4-match ban for its supporters’ groups traveling to Atlanta. Alicia DelGallo, reporting at the time for the Orlando Sentinel, wrote, “Orlando City sent notices to the supporter groups’ presidents after conducting an investigation with MLS as part of the league’s Incident Response Policy in relation to multiple complaints about supporters’ behavior during and after Orlando City’s match in Atlanta July 29, 2017.”

Typical privileges granted to organized supporters groups in Major League Soccer include block ticket purchasing in designated areas, escorts to matches, entering stadiums early and bringing flags and banners.

The teams’ next game against each other is scheduled to be played August 24 at Orlando City Stadium.