Macklemore Got a Soccer Fan Arrested

This Grammy-winning American rapper accidentally helped capture a fugitive soccer fan after an unexpected moment on stage. This week, we examine the curious story of how Macklemore solved a police case revolving around the beautiful game. Plus, we look back at the time car salesmen in Detroit saved a crucial championship match, we check out a soccer stadium that holds live snakes during games, and more.

After a bit of a break, it feels good to be back digging these crazy footy stories up again…

This week’s stories:

• 🚗 The Day Car Salesmen Saved Soccer in Detroit

• 📖 Shel Silverstein and the Beautiful Game

• 🎤 Macklemore Got a Soccer Fan Arrested

• 🐍 Snakes at a Soccer Game

• 🗳️ Poll

• ➡️ And More

OUR HISTORY
The Day Car Salesmen Saved Soccer in Detroit

On September 22nd, 1982, the Pontiac Silverdome witnessed one of the greatest nights in American soccer history.

Nearly 34,000 fans showed up to this iconic NFL stadium to catch the decisive Game 3 of the 1982 American Soccer League championship series between the Detroit Express and the Oklahoma City Slickers.

Yet with only a few days to promote this game between two “minor league” sides, it seemed like attendance numbers were going to be abysmal…

…that is until Dodge car dealers in town saved the day with a creative solution.

LITERATURE
Shel Silverstein and the Beautiful Game

This week would’ve been American writer and cartoonist Shel Silverstein’s 95th birthday, so I figured it’d be fun to dig up his only poem featuring soccer on this fine Tuesday morning!

I'd rather play tennis than go to the dentist.

I'd rather play soccer than go to the doctor.

I'd rather play Hurk than go to work.

Hurk? Hurk? What's Hurk?

I don't know, but it must be better than work.

- Shel Silverstein, Hurk

Amen, Shel, amen. Now check out this USWNT hype video from 2015 featuring one of his most famous poems, narrated by Helen Mirren…

COVER STORY
Macklemore Got a Soccer Fan Arrested

Last week, American rapper Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s massive US tour after onstage ‘Free Palestine’ statements, which somehow led me to revisit some of his catalogue and do some research on his story with the beautiful game (after all, he’s a minority owner of the Seattle Sounders). But nothing could’ve prepared me for what I found…

Turns out that back in 2024, Macklemore accidentally helped Slovakian authorities catch a fugitive soccer streaker.

The story goes that the “Can’t Hold Us” rapper was performing at Lovestream Festival in Slovakia when he invited a woman to join him on stage. Somehow another fan recognized her face from the wanted persons portal on the Slovak Republic Police website (which is crazy) and sent in the tip.

Allegedly, the woman was wanted in connection to a 2019 incident in which she reportedly streaked at a soccer game. After being apprehended, she spent a weekend in jail at the time but failed to pay an 800 euro fine, which is why there was still a warrant out for her arrest.

A few days after the Macklemore concert, authorities ended up capturing this ~rebellious~ soccer fan.

Honestly, one of the most random footy-adjacent stories I’ve ever read…

ZOOLOGY
Snakes at a Soccer Game

Just when you think you’ve seen it all in USL, this amazing league will throw another surprise your way.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen this anywhere else, to be honest.

But that’s not the only animal that turned heads at a soccer game this past week (more on that later)…

CLUBELEVEN
The Supporters Section

Let us know your favorite and why—we’ll feature your best answers next week!

CLUBELEVEN
Aggregates

Insane Futsal Court: This might just be the greatest new futsal court in America. Here’s where you can find it!

Rabbinho: If Greenville had live snakes, Austin had to deal with a rabbit invading the pitch over the weekend. Wild…

Ok, Now For Real: Well, it seems like Indianapolis is still being considered for MLS expansion. But we’ve heard that before…

Hudson River Derby Hero: Red Bulls golden boy Julian Hall made sure to turn New York red.

Best PL Bar: Had the chance to stop by an iconic Man United institution over in LA the other weekend!

ART
Custom Soccer Otters

11-year-old Julia, a super fan of both otters and the San Diego Wave, combined both of her passions to make custom otters for Wave players and got to personally hand them to the squad last week!

So awesome seeing so much artistic talent and creativity in the next generation of fans 🙌

CLUBELEVEN
Rescuing the Soccer Bus

It was a long 90+ days without seeing the bus, but we all got to finally make it out to LA together and see how it’s doing. The new engine is absolutely insane, and it should hopefully keep us running smoothly for the foreseeable future (although you never know how things will go on the road, as we’ve learned).

We also saw that the windshield has some damage, so we’ll be looking to get it replaced before embarking on a journey back East at some point. Woody is getting restless, but all in due time…

TRAVEL
Catch a Game in Europe ✈️

As we kick off the 2026/27 European season, we’re proud to announce we’ll be teaming up with Champions Travel once again, this time as our official European Ticketing Partner to help us with our storytelling efforts across the pond!

And if you’re looking to go on a European adventure of your own this season, make sure to use our code CTCLUB11 with Champions Travel to receive 10% off all football packages! (cap of €50 per person, can be used once per person.)

UP NEXT
Goodbye LA! Hello USMNT?

Overall, our time in LA was an absolute blast, and it was great getting to dive into the soccer scene there for a few days. One highlight was definitely O’Brien’s, and I cannot recommend their Irish coffee and Irish breakfast enough + all the staff and members of the LA Red Army were amazing!

Now we’re all headed home for the next few days before meeting up for the USMNT game in Orlando. If you’ll be there too, give us a shout!

Enjoying This?

Make sure to forward this email to a friend and help us spread the soccer gospel far and wide! We’ll see you next week with even more untold stories of soccer.

Have a great Tuesday!

Pablo