Real rude fans | The Salt Lake Tribune

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

I have been a frequent visitor to Salt Lake City and have been impressed with the family-friendly culture. So I was shocked by the lack of sportsmanship exhibited by fans at Saturday's Real Salt Lake soccer game.

Everything about Saturday's venue was fan-friendly until the game progressed. I was attending with my 13-year-old grandson and we were surrounded by families with younger children.

Yet, this didn't stop periodic fan chants of "the ref sucks!" At the game's conclusion, fans booed and threw water bottles on the field. When members of the visiting team walked over to recognize their small fan base, they were booed.

Is this the type of adult behavior we want to exhibit to children? Real Salt Lake management should take action to stop this type of fan behavior.

J. Kevin Kilbane

Austin, Texas