NEW YORK (AP) — Offices, parks, bars — watch parties were held in all the usual locations for Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal match. However, one of them was in a slightly unusual location. New York’s vast Rikers Island Correctional Facility was better known for overcrowding and violence than for hosting social events.
More than 100 inmates in tan uniforms watched the semi-final match between England and Argentina, sitting at tables facing a projection screen showing the match in a gymnasium in the main intake center of the complex. A colorful balloon tower with soccer ball balloons on top surrounded the screen.
The prison has been holding watch parties for inmates who have shown good behavior, such as going at least 30 days without an incident, since the tournament began last month.
Wednesday’s scene was in sharp contrast to complaints about Rikers Island, which has been in such bad shape in recent years that a federal judge appointed federal officials to help improve the facility. Wednesday’s watch party was held a day after its official, known as the improvement manager, submitted a reform plan that included a bleak account of the facility’s dysfunction.
They included testimony that when inspectors arrived at the housing unit, they found it filled with smoke from fires set by prisoners, alarms blaring and people banging on cell doors. The report also describes another incident in which prisoners poured in through an unsecured door and a scuffle ensued after a guard abandoned his post.
But on Wednesday, Rikers inmates attending a viewing party were visited by New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, who arrived just before kickoff. His trademark dark suit jacket had been removed, and the sleeves of his white dress shirt were rolled up.
The Democrats sat down at one of the first tables and immediately began talking about the tournament. One of the prisoners told the others at the table that he expected Argentina to win against England and play Spain, who had defeated France the day before.
“I don’t know,” said Mamdani, who declares he is a Moroccan fan.
At another table, an inmate said he would be going home later that day. “That’s amazing,” the mayor said, shaking his hand and patting him on the back as he left the game about 20 minutes into the game.
When England took the lead early in the second half, the prison crowd let out a mixture of groans and cheers.
Ralph Veale was one of the few England fans to celebrate with arms raised as Argentina supporters grimaced and looked away in disappointment. The 53-year-old Mount Vernon resident, who has been incarcerated since November, said he supports England because it is his 20-year-old son’s favorite team.
“The atmosphere is really good. I’m sitting at a table with Argentina fans and it’s okay,” Veale said just before England’s goal. “We’re having a great time. It feels really great, really great. The energy here is really positive.”
Victor Caldas was one of the many Argentina fans who jumped out of their seats to hug, clap and bang on the table after their team took a 2-1 lead in extra time and qualified to face Spain in Sunday’s final.
The 39-year-old, who was jailed for four months, has been rooting for Argentina since his native Ecuador were eliminated from the tournament.
Caldas said he appreciates being able to watch the game uninterrupted among fellow soccer fans, as there is always competition from other programs on the TVs in his residence.
“I’m going to take advantage of this little time and do my best to enjoy this moment,” he said. “This was supposed to be some kind of reward for good behavior.”
