On Wednesday, the San Jose Earthquakes were one of 10 teams in MLS to join an American professional athletes wildcat strike to protest racial inequality. After the game against the Portland Timbers did not take place, Earthquakes captain Chris Wondolowski spoke to reporters Thursday afternoon speaking about that decision, the fight for equality and more in a wide-ranging discussion.
Another game that did not proceed Wednesday, Real Salt Lake’s game against LAFC, became a hot topic all day Thursday after RSL club owner Dell Loy Hansen blasted players on a local radio program for striking, firing employees at the stadium and in the club’s charitable organization in retaliation, calling the strike disrespectful to him and denying the racial issues that led to the national protests.