Columbus Fans Still Boos Matt Freese After World Cup Struggles

It looks like soccer fans in Columbus haven’t quite moved on from Matt Freese’s World Cup blunder. During NYCFC’s recent match, every time Freese got the ball, the crowd responded with loud boos.

In their first game back after the World Cup break, NYCFC won against the Columbus Crew 2-1. But the atmosphere at Scotts Miracle-Gro Field was charged as Crew fans didn’t hold back, taunting Freese throughout the evening.

The derision mainly stems from his performance during the U.S. men’s national team’s Round of 16 loss to Belgium, where a significant misstep by Freese allowed Belgium to score their third goal.

From the moment Freese first touched the ball in the third minute, the boos erupted, with fans chanting “Shame on you!” and the hostility only intensified when he handled a pass from Thiago Martins just moments later.

As the first half went on, one camera caught a Columbus supporter giving a thumbs-down, which, I suppose, is a rather clear message. Despite the hostile reception, Freese remained focused during the match, making three saves and playing a key role in NYCFC’s sixth win of the season.

NYCFC’s head coach, Pascal Jansen, commented that Freese’s actions “speak for themselves” in light of the crowd’s reaction. He reassured everyone that Freese isn’t too troubled by the negativity. “He’s got to work through it,” Jansen stated, acknowledging the lingering disappointment among fans regarding the national team’s overall World Cup performance, which has perhaps made Freese a target.

Jansen continued, suggesting that Freese would overcome this with the support of teammates. “We’re not worried in the slightest,” he added, defending his player.

Although Freese wasn’t available for media comments after the match, he previously expressed to a publication that he doesn’t want his World Cup misstep to define him. He noted, with an almost hopeful tone, that he’s received a lot of encouragement from fans, even sharing a touching anecdote about young fans who approached him at the airport, sharing their love for soccer.

Jansen reflected on Freese’s ability to cope with the pressure, noting how he conducted himself during the match despite the widespread booing. “If you watch him play today… even if they were booing him, it wasn’t just a few, it was almost the whole stadium booing him,” he remarked. He emphasized the credit Freese deserves for how he handled the situation.