Toronto FC has every right to be upset about Supporter’s Shield decision

After it was announced that there will be no Supporter’s Shield handed out for this season, Toronto FC made it known that they were not in favour of this decision.

It has been a rollercoaster season for Toronto FC but it’s also been a rewarding one as they sit atop the MLS standings but that won’t come with all the benefits that it usually does.

If Toronto finishes the season with the best record in the league, the decision has already been made that they will not receive the Supporter’s Shield. A decision that has come with a lot of backlash and debate over the past few weeks.

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The decision to not hand out of the Supporter’s Shield because there are no fans in attendance during the pandemic is not exactly an explanation that is going to be widely accepted. This was made clear by comments made from the team including captain Michael Bradley.

"“It seem ridiculous. There’s no sugar-coating that. It seems crazy that three weeks from the end of the season, that all of a sudden you can just decide that one of the three trophies that teams are fighting for throughout a season is no longer in play,” Bradley told the Canadian Press via Sportsnet. “But having said that, we’re not going to let anything throw us off.”"

TFC has made it clear that they will be lifting a trophy and celebrate if they finish with the best record because it’s an accomplishment that shouldn’t be played down. If anything, Toronto would have more of a reason to celebrate considering they have had to take a less than ideal route to competing this season.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced TFC to play their home games outside of Canada because of the travel restrictions. This makes the news even more disappointing considering it’s something players take a lot of pride in.

While the benefits of coming in first including a berth into the  CONCACAF Champions League and a $150,000 bonus, you can’t help but wonder how many will try to put an asterisk on the accomplishment. This shouldn’t take away from TFC’s motivation going forward considering they have been a model MLS club the past few years.

You can bet that this club will use this decision to give them a chip on their shoulder.

What are your thoughts on the Supporter’s Shield not being handed out? How do you want to see TFC celebrate if they finish with the best record? Let us know in the comments below.