RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen says 'disrespect was profound' after Wednesday night match was canceled

SANDY, Utah — Real Salt Lake owner Dell Loy Hansen came under fire Thursday for comments he made about the postponement of Wednesday’s matchbetween RSL and LAFC.

Among his comments was that the players respect national issues but didn't support the local community, according to an article in RSL Soapbox.

An hour before the match, RSL announced that in solidarity with players from both sides, the match had been canceled.

The players made the decision after several NBA and MLB games had been postponed to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin.

RSL Soapbox was first to report what Hansen said publicly about his anger at players for protesting and striking yesterday in conjunction with a broader protest across many American sports teams.

The site published several quotes Hansen made to Jake Simons on X96’s Radio From Hell, a station which Hansen owns.

In one, Hansen said "The disrespect was profound to me, personally," and another one that said," It's taken a lot of wind out of my sails on how much I want to invest in the team -- buying players and building the team."

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber responded to Hansen's comments and said he "strongly disagreed," and that his comments "do not reflect the views of MLS."

Hansen's comments also prompted calls for him to sell the team, including a tweet from Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell, who has been one of the NBA's most outspoken supporters of Black Lives Matter. Mitchell said, "WOW...if it's taken 'the wind' out then sell the team," adding that he stands with RSL's players.

Even RSL icon Nick Rimando, tweeted that he is "disgusted" by Hansen's comments.