Here is how Inter Miami and Atlanta United players made the decision to boycott game
The players’ decision to call off Wednesday night’s Inter Miami home game against Atlanta United “came together organically” in the final 30 minutes before the scheduled kickoff, Atlanta midfielder Jeff Larentowicz explained on a Thursday Zoom interview with the media.
He said he first became aware of what was happening with the NBA walkout around 5:45 p.m., when he turned on ESPN before Atlanta United’s pre-game team meeting. Once they got to Inter Miami Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, text messages were flying among players throughout Major League Soccer.
Larentowicz and Atlanta co-captain Brad Guzan were in communication with Inter Miami captain Luis Robles and with the MLS Black Players for Change group before the game. Both teams warmed up, but later decided not to play the game as a Black Lives Matter protest in solidarity with athletes from the NBA, WNBA and MLB.
“Through those text channels the discussions started,” Larentowicz said. “Brad [Guzan] and I met with Luis Robles before warmups to see where he stood, where they stood, what information they had gathered from around the league. We were watching the Orlando-Nashville game [which kicked off a half hour earlier]. Myself not being in the [starting] 11, I kept a closer watch. Brad and the team were preparing. As I spoke to Luis, we got to point where we made decision to not go forward with the game.
“It happened quite quickly. In less than 30 minutes. We got prepared as if, but also continued the discussions.”
Larentowicz said he told Atlanta United coach Stephen Glass before warmups that there was a chance there may be a player boycott.
“I said, ‘Look, this is happening, I want to make you aware of it,’” Larentowicz said. “I don’t have an answer at the moment, but I want to put it on your radar because it was a player driven thing, but it would affect the staff and I wanted to make it clear to him that he had something else potentially on his plate.”
It was a very emotional afternoon and evening, he said, and one that he hopes will result in significant initiatives and real change. He said Atlanta players have already pledged to become involved in Spike the Vote campaigns to get more people to the polls.
“Wednesday was a groundswell of emotions,” he said. “There was a lot going on and decisions were being made in real time. It was a human decision we felt we needed to make that was bigger than the two locker rooms down there in Fort Lauderdale. It was an acknowledgement of emotions that were on high and we felt before we’re athletes, we are humans that need to acknowledge and support each other.”
Larentowicz said calling off the game against Miami was not “the silver bullet to solve all issues,” but it was a coming together of players from all backgrounds who want to use their platform for the greater good.
“I don’t think anybody thought not playing the game was going to solve anything, but what I think it does is it bolsters that unity, shows support so we can figure out ways to work together to effect change.
“I haven’t been as directly affected, but I do my best to understand how [players of color] are feeling. We’re reaching the point where this is enough and there has to be change and collective acknowledgment of things going wrong and ways to make it better.”
Larentowicz said foreign players on his team were unified in their support of the boycott Wednesday night. They had a team conversation after practice on Thursday, and he said international players spoke out.
“The Latin American players are coming from another country, but we heard from several of those players and they are very aware of what’s going on,” he said. “They follow it. They’re understanding it and see how affected their teammates are and how important it is. We have had very healthy conversations about it.”
Atlanta United flew home late Wednesday night and were back at practice Thursday in preparation for Saturday’s game against Orlando.
Inter Miami did not make any players or officials available Wednesday night or Thursday. Their only comment on the game was a late-night Tweet that read: “Inter Miami CF stands in support of our players. #UNIDAD”
The league has not announced when, or if, the postponed games will be replayed.