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MLS pulls false alarm over Timbers flags

By Forrest Tucker   Black and red flags waved as the supporter’s section bounced up and down, shaking the old concrete they stood on. From across the pitch,  we  could hear   Barra Brav a, District Ultras  and the Screaming Eagles,  all  DC United supporters' groups, sing ing  and chant ing  inside RFK Stadium.  DC United ’s  diehard fans  could be  as entertaining as the  match itself . T heir colorful flags and banners, called  tifos , are a major entity of soccer culture .  In my experience watching American soccer,   tifos  and flags  were always about badgering the opposition  and showing club pride.   They were  never  about  politics .    But, in Portland, Oregon, th ings are different  for fans of the Timbers .  The Timbers Army   has   display ed  the Iron Front, a symbol strongly linked with A ntifa, at their home matches  for years .  These displays were  surpris ing because  my MLS experiences  have always been  apolitical.  On the other hand,  it is not u