{"id":5064159,"date":"2025-11-21T06:29:17","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T06:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/illatinonews.com\/?p=5064159"},"modified":"2025-11-21T06:29:17","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T06:29:17","slug":"encendidos-sector-latinos-passion-on-and-off-the-pitch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/2025\/11\/21\/encendidos-sector-latinos-passion-on-and-off-the-pitch\/","title":{"rendered":"Encendidos: Sector Latino\u2019s Passion On And Off The Pitch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
En espa\u00f1ol<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. \u2013 There\u2019s a chill in the Illinois air as cars zoom past on I-294, but this is no ordinary fall evening for Chicago Fire FC<\/a> fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drums and chants of \u201cdale Chicago\u201d echo out of SeatGeek Stadium, where the Fire are ending the longest playoff drought in the MLS\u2019s in a wild-card matchup against Orlando City. At the onset of the second half, Illinois native Brian Guti\u00e9rrez, or \u201cGuti,\u201d finds the back of the net and scores the Fire\u2019s first playoff goal in 13 years. He sprints straight to the supporters\u2019 section to celebrate with Sector Latino, which erupts to embrace its hometown hero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a connection between the players and the fans that hasn\u2019t been there for a long time,\u201d said Mauricio Pineda, former chair of Section 8, an independent Fire supporter\u2019s association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sector Latino, a separate supporter group for the MLS\u2019 Chicago Fire, had a roller coaster 2025 season. Their passion for the club has been strained by regulations limiting protests against the Trump administration\u2019s immigration policy. The Fire\u2019s on-field success coincided with political tensions in Chicago surrounding the deployment of ICE agents and the National Guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A banner stating \u201cFire fans contra ICE\u201d led to three Sector Latino members receiving yearlong bans. The group and Section 8 requested the club to release a message supporting communities impacted by ICE. Such a message has not yet arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI understand that they\u2019re trying to avoid conflict,\u201d said Pineda. \u201cBut we spend our hard-earned money, time, and effort on this team. It sort of feels like a slap in the face when you don\u2019t get a statement from the team supporting the things that are important to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A high point for Sector Latino and the club at large came on Oct. 22, when the Fire took on Orlando in their playoff opener. Guti\u2019s goal kick-started a 3-1 victory, Chicago\u2019s first playoff win since 2009.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sector Latino stood and chanted all game, alongside Section 8, which encompasses eight other groups. Fans skipped work and sat through hours of traffic to reach the southwest Chicago suburb. Supporting the Fire unconditionally through last-place finishes and early eliminations finally paid off. Rain or shine, the Fire faithful stuck with the team. Guti, a homegrown Mexican-American player, sparked the first flame Chicago had seen in over a decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re my people,\u201d said Guti at the postgame press conference. \u201cWe come from the same people and we live the same background.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Brian Guti\u00e9rrez at the postgame press conference following Chicago\u2019s win against Orlando, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025.<\/em> Tomas Moran\/ Illinois Latino News Network<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was heartbreaking to not be a part of it,\u201d said Nate Cubeta, one of the three Sector Latino members currently serving a ban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cubeta and siblings Edith and Julio Lopez brought a banner to the Chicago Fire matchup against Charlotte FC on June 28. It featured former Mexico and Chicago star Cuauht\u00e9moc Blanco and the message \u201cFire fans contra ICE\u201d. The trio made the sign without consulting other Sector Latino members and displayed it at two games before the Charlotte contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFire fans contra ICE\u201d banner displayed at Soldier Field during the Chicago Fire\u2019s game versus Charlotte FC, Monday, June 28, 2025 (image courtesy of Nate Cubeta for Illinois Latino News Network).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the game, stadium officials asked Cubeta to take down the banner. He refused, and it was confiscated. The club notified the fans shortly after the game that all three were banned from Fire games for the next 365 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe created the sign knowing it was technically in violation of the regulations,\u201d said Cubeta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MLS\u2019s Fan Code of Conduct<\/a> bars \u201cdisplaying signs, symbols, or images for commercial purposes or for electioneering, campaigning, or advocating for or against any candidate, political party, legislative issue, or government action.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Cubeta and both Lopez siblings were aware of the potential repercussions of the banner, they did not expect such a reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe were shocked and appalled by the punishment,\u201d said Cubeta. \u201cA one-year punishment is typically only for a violent incident.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sector Latino<\/a> and Section 8<\/a> both released statements condemning the ban. The open letter from Sector Latino inquired, \u201cIs it that Chicago Fire ownership only cares to collect money, content, and cache from Chicago\u2019s immigrant community and offer no support in return?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A protest was also organized by Sector Latino and Section 8 for the fixture with San Diego FC on July 12. Backs turned against the pitch, the entire supporters\u2019 section fell dead silent for the opening 15 minutes of the match. The constant drumming, flag waving, and chanting the Fire is accustomed to, even in the worst of times, was gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fire\u2019s front office issued a statement to the press, declaring, \u201cThe Chicago Fire remain committed to providing a safe and enjoyable environment for all fans.\u201d Supporter Relations Coordinator Roberto D\u00edaz stopped responding to further messages seeking comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, the Philadelphia Union eliminated Chicago on Nov. 1, ending the Fire\u2019s 2025 campaign. With the successful, yet tumultuous, season behind them, the community remains at the heart of Sector Latino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI feel at home in Sector,\u201d said Cubeta. \u201cIt\u2019s about having options for people to support in a way they\u2019re comfortable with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a new stadium in the works for 2028, fans are cautiously optimistic for the Fire\u2019s future. Soccer culture is community-based, Sector Latino and Section 8 want to ensure that the Fire maintains that fundamental value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSoccer is the only professional sport in the US where fans get a still say on how the team is run,\u201d said Pineda. \u201cWe want to ensure that fans don\u2019t lose that. Today, the immigrant community is being impacted by ICE, but tomorrow there may be another issue fans want to speak up about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soccer teams traditionally represent communities, and supporter groups are the conduit through which residents show their support and make their voices heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith the Fire, you still have a say,\u201d Pineda said. \u201cYou still get to express to the team what you want to see. It provides fans a platform to communicate what\u2019s important to them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe visibility, the power is in the stadium,\u201d said Cubeta. \u201cThat\u2019s a part of stadium supporters\u2019 culture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing is for sure, though. Sector Latino continues to believe in the Chicago Fire as a symbol of its community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll definitely be at the first game I\u2019m allowed back,\u201d said Cubeta. \u201cThey can\u2019t get rid of me that easily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

View of Sector Latino from behind at SeatGeek Stadium, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025.<\/em> Tomas Moran\/Illinois Latino News Network<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Tomas Moran is a bilingual student journalist in his second year at Northwestern University, with a focus on radio and television broadcast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feature Image Caption: Daniel Flores (trumpet) and Alberto Saberben (Peruvian flag) cheer on the Fire from Sector Latino, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025.<\/em> Tomas Moran\/ Illinois Latino News Network<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chicago Fire captain Brian \u201cGuti\u201d Guti\u00e9rrez\u2019s playoff moment contrasted with a season of tension after Sector Latino members were banned for an ICE-related banner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5064161,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[414,431],"tags":[176,429,17,23,165,18,25,430],"ppma_author":[428],"class_list":["post-5064159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-immigration","category-sports","tag-chicago","tag-chicago-fire","tag-hispanic","tag-hispanics","tag-illinois","tag-latino","tag-latinos","tag-soccer"],"acf":[],"mb":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/11\/unnamed-1.jpg",1600,1200,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/11\/unnamed-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/11\/unnamed-1-300x225.jpg",300,225,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/11\/unnamed-1-768x576.jpg",768,576,true],"large":["https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/11\/unnamed-1-1024x768.jpg",1024,768,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/11\/unnamed-1-1536x1152.jpg",1536,1152,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/11\/unnamed-1.jpg",1600,1200,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"LNN","author_link":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/author\/jermainesmith\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Chicago Fire captain Brian \u201cGuti\u201d Guti\u00e9rrez\u2019s playoff moment contrasted with a season of tension after Sector Latino members were banned for an ICE-related banner.","authors":[{"term_id":428,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"tomas-moran","display_name":"Tomas Moran","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_category":"","first_name":"","last_name":"","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"mfb_rest_fields":["title","uagb_featured_image_src","uagb_author_info","uagb_comment_info","uagb_excerpt","authors"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5064159","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5064159"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5064159\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5064161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5064159"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5064159"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5064159"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/illn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=5064159"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}