Inter Milan at UCLA, fans gather

The usually calm, quiet atmosphere at UCLA during the summer had a serious shake-up Thursday afternoon on four-time defending Italian League champions Inter Milan’s fourth day of practice at North Athletic Field. They faced off against a team of mostly college-age Southern California soccer players known as Offside Sports in front of friends, family, international press and fans all squeezed into the bleachers on the east end of the field.

The teams exchanged goals throughout the match with Offside drawing first blood early in the first half.

Playing for the Offside Sports squad were former Bruin forward Maxwell Griffin and Bruin senior goalkeeper Brian Perk.

In April 2008, Griffin told UCLABruins.com that he always chooses Inter Milan when playing soccer video games. Now, without a controller in his hand, Griffin was facing the players he used to score goals with.

“I play with these on video games, and to be on the field with these guys is just ridiculous,” Griffin said. “I’ve never played against guys this good.”

Griffin, who is currently working to play professionally in Europe, said he was glad to have the experience of playing such high-caliber players. Though Inter Milan was not treating Thursday’s scrimmage with the same gravity as it would any regular season match, for Griffin, his efforts in the game were nothing less than his best.

“This is probably the biggest game I’ve ever played in my life and probably one of the most well-played I’ve played,” Griffin said.

Inter Milan players and coaches denied interview requests from local media.

HUNDREDS GATHER AT NORTH ATHLETIC FIELD: Crowds trying to catch a glimpse of the practices had been gradually increasing throughout the week as morning practices were eventually opened to fans. With word of Thursday afternoon’s practice spreading, hundreds of fans gathered at the east entrance of the North Athletic Field to get into the field and on the bleachers.

According to sources with UCLA Recreation, which has been highly involved in the field and security operations during Inter Milan’s visit at UCLA, the fire marshal was limiting the number of people on the field. Throughout the match, however, more fans were allowed to occupy the bleachers inside North Athletic Field.

To maintain the requested privacy of Inter Milan, UCLA Recreation installed black tarp around the fence of North Athletic Field, though some fans found gaps in the tarp to watch the scrimmage.

Many of the fans initially allowed inside North Athletic Field were friends and family of Offside players. Throughout the match, fans wearing Inter Milan gear began filing in.

Appearing for Inter Milan in the second half was defender Marco Materazzi, who was bearing the captain’s armband during the second half.

Materazzi, a member of the Italian national team, was accused of provoking French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, who was ejected with a red card for head-butting Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final. Since then, Materazzi has gained notoriety among soccer fans internationally.

MORE EUROPEAN TEAMS TO PRACTICE AT UCLA: The top Italian soccer club had a special experience in finding its way to practice on the fields of UCLA.

Inter Milan’s coaching staff was previously with perennial English Premier League contender Chelsea. When Chelsea came to the United States in 2007 on a national tour similar to the one Inter Milan is currently on, José Mourinho and his coaching staff called on UCLA Recreation for practice facilities.

According to Rudy Figueroa, the assistant director of student recreation venues for UCLA Recreation, the Chelsea squad in 2007 was staying at a hotel in Beverly Hills, and they wanted a practice venue close to their hotel so as to minimize time spent commuting. With UCLA just a few miles away, North Athletic Field was a perfect fit, and they established a good relationship.

Figueroa added that they will be hosting AC Milan for a training session Saturday at Spaulding Field.

UCLA Recreation is currently working with other European squads interested in practicing on campus.

INTER MILAN STILL PLAYING: Inter Milan will travel to Palo Alto Saturday afternoon for an exhibition match on Sunday against Club America at 4 p.m. in Stanford Stadium.

ESPN2 will be broadcasting the match live.

The team will then return to Southern California and face Chelsea in a much anticipated club friendly on Tuesday. Proceeds from the tickets will benefit the Los Angeles Futbol Club, also known as LAFC Chelsea, an organization that provides affordable club soccer play for economically disadvantaged teens.

The match begins at 8 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPN2.