TFC's Altidore says he'll buy Real Salt Lake following owner's anti-protest comments

Toronto FC forward Jozy Altidore claims he's part of a group prepared to buy Real Salt Lake following owner Dell Loy Hansen's comments regarding MLS players protesting.

MLS postponed five matches Wednesday after Inter Miami and Atlanta United's decision to walk off ahead of their game in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Following the players' decision to not play, Hansen told a local radio station, "The disrespect was profound to me, personally," per The Athletic's Sam Stejskal. He added, "It's taken a lot of wind out of" his desire to invest in the club.

Altidore responded to Hansen's remarks on Twitter, saying, "He needs to sell the team then. I'm involved in a group that's ready to purchase it. Time for change."

The protest by MLS players came after the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks decided not to play Game 5 of their first-round series against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The NBA ended up postponing all of its scheduled playoff matchups Wednesday as a result.

A large selection of MLS players supported the walkout, including Altidore, who said, "Proud of sports tonight and all of my guys in MLS."

RSL defender Nedum Onuoha expressed his anger over Hansen's comments following the postponement of Wednesday's home match against LAFC. "I don't want to be here because I'm not here to play for someone who isn't here to support us," the former Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers player told BBC Sport.

"We are trying to create a bigger conversation but a lot of the people who are in power don't empathize or sympathize or do anything. They are more concerned with themselves," Onuoha added.

MLS is facing pressure to take control of the Real Salt Lake franchise from Hansen. However, commissioner Don Garber didn't indicate that measure would be used in a statement released via the league's communications team on Thursday evening.

"I appreciate Dell Loy Hansen's efforts to build the sport of soccer in Utah. His commitment to MLS, the NWSL and the USL, as well as the game at the youth level, has been significant," Garber's statement read.

"However, I strongly disagree with the comments he made today and the way they were expressed. They do not reflect the views of MLS."

In mid-August, FC Dallas and Nashville SC players were booed at the Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, for kneeling during the national anthem. Dallas' Reggie Cannon - who is Black - called the booing "absolutely disgusting," remarks that drew a slew of racial abuse on Twitter.