Wilfried Nancy has a well-earned reputation as the sharpest tactical mind in MLS.
On Sunday at Lumen Field, the Columbus Crew head coach showed that he also possesses great character.
Following Stefan Frei's scary head injury in second-half stoppage time of Seattle's Matchday 22 clash with the Crew, referee Ismir Pekmic (pretty inexplicably) was planning on having Columbus run a last corner kick, despite the allotted extra time having already elapsed. Informed of that decision, Nancy told Pekmic to simply end the match, even with his team theoretically having a chance to score a game-winning goal – a gesture that was acknowledged by Brian Schmetzer in his emotional postgame remarks.
"I hope that everything's going to be okay with [Frei]," Nancy said after the match. "Our job is not easy. When you see a situation like that, again, football is not the most important. We stay positive, and hopefully everything's going to be good for him."
We certainly had our fun bantering with the Crew fanbase last year following the Famous Backup Goalkeeper Debacle of 2024, but I have nothing but respect for Nancy and the Crew for how they handled the entire situation that unfolded on Sunday. That includes their players, several of whom took to social media to offer Frei their well-wishes. There's a reason this story has received coverage outside of even just MLS circles as an example of genuine sportsmanship.
We get so wrapped up in the takes and discourse sometimes that it can be easy to forget that this is all, in fact, just a game. Credit to Wilfried Nancy for underscoring that reminder.
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Catching up on Sounder at Heart
Here's what you missed on the site this week.
Sounders
Next match: Saturday, July 12 at Sporting Kansas City | 5:30 pm PT | MLS Season Pass
- A draw and a near-disaster: Sounders-Crew ends on somber note
- Stefan Frei conscious and moving when taken off field by ambulance
- Obed Vargas would become U22 if he signs extension
- Seattle Sounders vs. Columbus Crew: community player ratings form
- Lobbing Scorchers Kickoff: Stefan Frei injury update & more from Matchday 22
This newsletter was made possible through the support of Full Pull Wines, a boutique wines reseller that has been sponsoring us since 2011.
Reign
Next match: Friday, August 1 vs. Angel City FC | 7:30 pm PT | Prime Video
- Seattle Reign signs Sam Meza through 2028
- 13 Reign players on 2026 NWSL free agent list
- Review: ‘Girls with Goals’
Defiance
Next match: Thursday, July 17 vs. Real Monarchs | 7 pm PT | MLS Season Pass
Looking back at the news
Everything else you need to know
Matthew Doyle: Power Rankings, 1-30 | Matchday 22 (Tactics Free Zone)
New allegations of financial mismanagement emerge against Lyon & John Textor ahead of DNCG appeal (Get Football News France)
NWSL Announces 2026 Schedule Footprint (NWSL)
US Soccer Podcast: Inside the USWNT-Canada Rivalry with Lynn Biyendolo & Jordyn Bugg (US Soccer)
Orchestrating from deep: How Sam Coffey steers the USWNT midfield (The Equalizer)
FIFA Club World Cup: MLS winners & losers, what we learned (MLSSoccer)
What We Learned: FC Cincinnati take Shield lead, LA Galaxy show life (MLSSoccer)
MLS Power Rankings: As Whitecaps slip, Nashville is new No. 1 (ESPN)
USMNT’s Mauricio Pochettino blasts Gold Cup final refereeing after Mexico handball controversy (The Athletic)
Real Salt Lake’s Diogo Gonçalves pays tribute to Diogo Jota (Salt Lake Tribune)
U.S. Open Cup Preview: All-MLS Last Eight Take Aim at Semifinal Spots (US Soccer)
USWNT's Lily Yohannes signs three-year deal with Lyonnes (ESPN)
