Sports

Red Bulls rout Montreal, fans chant You Suck A-hole

More eyes turned on tonight’s Red Bull game to see if their fans persisted in their controversial and profane “You suck A-hole” chant than to see if the team could actually knock off first-place Montreal. In an intense, electric atmosphere, the answer to both questions was a resounding hell yes.

The Red Bulls had drawn attention for all the wrong reasons this week, the team chastised for their listless, lethargic loss in Colorado and their fans chastised for their language, with the three supporter groups – the Empire Supporters Club, Viking Army and Garden State Ultras – even offered $500 each per game to stop chanting “YSA” after the opposing keeper’s goalkicks.

But the 17,235 on hand were as loud as ever, and two of the three supporter groups unleashed one YSA chant at Troy Perkins in the 53rd minute. And the Red Bulls themselves were just as energetic, dominating the Impact 4-0 to move into a tie for second in the East.

“We had to respond after the game against Colorado and we did,’’ said Thierry Henry, who had a goal, two assists and gave up the 88th-minute PK to struggling Peguy Luyindula for the latter’s first of the year. “It was very important we weaned to start very strong, which we did, and then we kept on going. That was the key.’’

They also got goals from Eric Alexander in the 10th minute and Tim Cahill in the 63rd.

“We were better than we were last week. It was a massive game for us; a lot was at stake division-wise,’’ said Cahill. “The mentality was to put right the last game we played, and we felt we did that.’’

The South Ward support urged them on, but if they keep flouting orders to cease the YSA chant, there could be consequences and repercussions. Real Salt Lake may start banning fans that persist, and last night in the 63rd minute the chant – albeit quieter than normal – was audible from the GSU and Viking Army.

“I understand the severity if it, I really do,’’ coach Mike Petke told the Post. “Its hard for somebody who played all those years and is a fan at heart to pick a side because I see both sides. The business office might be mad at me for saying this and the fans might be mad at me. But that’s who I am: I’m a contradiction in terms.’’

Two members of the GSU – who had profanely rejected the club’s cash offer and vowed not to be bought or censored – got taken away early in the first half for setting off smoke bombs. And there was the persistent YSA chant itself.

Oddly, it’s far from their worst. After Alexander’s goal they sang a popular song that includes the lyrics “Take them all. Put them up against the wall and shoot ’em.’ Others deal with drugs and hookers, albeit in Spanish. But MLS fears YSA will hurt sponsorship and drive away families.

“Absolutely. I’m in favor of whatever it takes (to end YSA). And it would deter us from coming back,’’ said first-time visitor Ken Walleshauser, who drove down from Buffalo with wife Dawn and kids Ben and Jillian, 12 and 8.

“It’s not like they’ve offered the money and now we’re trying to stop YSA. We’ve been trying to stop YSA for awhile,’’ said Viking Army spokesman Jason Corliss.

“To censor fans in any sport…it’s pretty tame compared to what’s said in the EPL. Trying to take that language away from fans, if that precedent is set, who knows what happens down road?’’ asks Manville’s Dave Knapp, who held a sign that said You Suck while his sister Heather Cooperstein held one that said “A-hole.

“I think YSA is played out. It’s time to let it go” said Cooperstein, adding “I have 2-year-old twins: This is the only time I get to curse!”

Knapp’s point about the EPL is well-made. Keith Brown, an ESC member since the club’s inception in 1996, spent a dozen years as a police officer in England. His job on Saturdays was to shepherd some of soccer’s rowdiest visiting fans from Victoria Station to the stadium and back.

“We had darts thrown at it, sharp stars, they put marbles down so the horses used to fall over and throw darts at the horses. It was awful, and I dealt with that. That’s a different era, I never want to see that here,’’ said Brown. “But MLS has more things to be concerned about than “you suck a-hole.’’

The irony of the whole furor? The chant itself is silly according to Nicole DiCrecchio, who has briefly served as capo, standing on the perch leading the ESC in song.

“We say it after (the keeper) already kicked the ball, so it actually makes no sense. How are you messing him up? He’s already kicked the ball,’’ said DiCrecchio, whose mother Doreen added “You suck a-hole is a stupid chant in the first place. Can we be a little more intelligent? It should be on a corner kick, a goalscoring opportunity. I just don’t understand why you’d do it on a goalkick.’’