This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Soccer fans are accustomed to seeing their favorite players become billboards for sponsors - whether it be a fruity energy drink (Xango, sponsor of Real Salt Lake) or a multinational insurance company (Aon, whose logo graces the kit of famed English Premiere League team Manchester United).
The players of F.C. New York, a minor-league franchise, are finding themselves being turned into human lawn signs for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
An anonymous donor paid to have Romney's name and "Believe in America" slogan emblazoned on F.C. New York jerseys, according to The New York Times' soccer blog.
The club released a statement from the donor: "I love fútbol, I love America, I am a proud Latino-American who believes Mitt Romney needs to be our next president."
Whether F.C. New York will take the further step of renaming the team the Fighting Romneys remains to be seen. (Hey, their MLS neighbor, the New York Red Bulls, did it.)