A video circulating from Sunday's El Tráfico showdown appears to show an LAFC supporter spitting on the back of a female LA Galaxy fan's head at BMO Stadium, igniting outrage even as the home side celebrated a dramatic comeback. The clip captures an ugly sideline to an otherwise thrilling rivalry match, and as of Monday, the man's identity remained unconfirmed.
According to tmspn.com, the confrontation involved two men wearing LAFC apparel and a man and woman seated directly in front of them. Footage reportedly shows one of the LAFC supporters directing an insulting remark toward the woman before appearing to spit at the back of her head. The incident was first reported by the New York Post, which noted that video of the exchange was reposted widely across social media as fans tried to identify the man involved.
Photographer @stpierre shared video of the confrontation on Instagram, and clips spread quickly among soccer fan accounts in the hours after the final whistle. No verified public announcement identifying the man or confirming any disciplinary action had surfaced as of Monday, per tmspn.com's reporting.
A Wild Comeback Overshadowed by Ugly Scenes in the Stands
On the field, LAFC rallied from a 2-0 deficit to salvage a 2-2 draw against their crosstown rivals at BMO Stadium on Sunday. Joseph Paintsil scored both Galaxy goals in a brace that gave the visitors an early two-goal cushion, but LAFC clawed back behind strikes from Denis Bouanga and Leo Walta, according to the LA Galaxy's own match report.
The result clinched LAFC a berth in the 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs, as confirmed by LAFC's official recap, marking the club's eighth postseason appearance in nine seasons of existence, according to the Los Angeles Times. The draw also extended LAFC's unbeaten streak to four games and secured the 2026 season series against the Galaxy at 1-0-1, per LAFC's recap. The all-time El Tráfico series now sits level at 10-10-8 across 28 meetings.
Drinks Thrown at Players Amid Tense Atmosphere
The spitting incident wasn't the only flashpoint from the stands Sunday. ESPN reported that LAFC fans threw drinks at celebrating Galaxy players after both of Paintsil's goals, adding to an already charged atmosphere inside BMO Stadium during the rivalry clash.
Fan misconduct has dogged this rivalry before. In 2024, MLS fined the Galaxy $100,000 after supporters lit multiple flares during a match against LAFC at the Rose Bowl, a penalty detailed by the Los Angeles Times, which also reported that the league indefinitely suspended supporter privileges for all Galaxy fan groups pending a comprehensive review. That same report noted MLS had previously fined LAFC $100,000 and suspended its 3252 supporters' group after flares were set off at BMO Stadium during a Western Conference final.
No Confirmed Response Yet From League or Clubs
As of Monday, no official response from LAFC, MLS, or BMO Stadium regarding the spitting incident had been made public. The man seen in the video has not been named, and no arrest, citation, or disciplinary action tied to the incident has been confirmed.
Fan misconduct toward opposing supporters isn't unique to MLS. In 2017, a Chelsea supporter who made a slant-eye gesture toward Son Heung-min received an indefinite stadium ban, according to the Korea JoongAng Daily, an example of how far-reaching consequences can follow when such incidents are confirmed. For now, the identity of the LAFC fan in Sunday's video remains unknown, and fans online continue circulating the footage in hopes of tracking him down.
