by Rod Hughes

Former Heredia star forward Andy Herron says incidents such as last week’s altercation with New England Revolution’s Jay Heaps are not unusual and that U.S. soccer is riddled with xenophobia and racism.

Columbus Crew’s Herron told the daily Diario Extra that since his days with Chicago Fire, Heaps has insulted him on the field, even referring to the fact that Herron is black. Nor is Heaps the only offender Herron has encountered. “Racism is always around but in the U.S. it’s worse. And this isn’t the first time I’ve had problems with this guy,” the Costa Rican soccer pro added.

The incident, which was reviewed by the Major League Soccer disciplinary panel, began when Heaps allegedly grabbed Herron between the legs and Herron retaliated by aiming an elbow at Heaps, according to the Costa Rican.

The referee did not blow his whistle but later Herron commented, “I’ve seen the video and the first impression looks like I hit him and the gesture is grotesque but I never made contact. I admit that my reaction wasn’t a good one but at that moment I felt as if I’d never have more kids.”

Later in the game, Herron says, a Revolution player fouled him, which the referee whistled. He said Heaps yelled, “Why are you (calling an infraction) when he isn’t even an American? Make him get up.”

“The coach and the team’s (Crew) captain heard it, too, so I have witnesses,” Herron added.

While prejudice against Latin Americans is common in the U.S., Herron has been in trouble before. When he was with the Chicago Fire, noted Diario Extra, he was penalized six games for alleged agression against an assistant referee. Ironically, that game was also against the Revolution.

But the paper noted that racism is a worldwide ill in soccer, as the Brazilian player Kahne can attest. Kahne plays in Germany for the Moenchengladbach team. So fierce were the racist slurs during one game that official Michael Weiner threatened to suspend the game.

Samuel Eto’o, a black African of Barcelona’s team in the Spanish major soccer league, has on more than one occasion left the pitch to the fan-generated sounds of monkeys. In another German game fans shouted a chorus of racist slurs at forward Gerald Asamoah.

Although Costa Rica shows less racism, which may account for Herron’s surprise in the U.S., it isn’t unknown here. Last September, then-Herredia coach Carlos Watson publicly denounced offenses shouted in Alajuela’s Morera Soto stadium.