Major League Soccer made another step towards its 28-team expansion goal on Tuesday, announcing the addition of Austin FC as the league’s 27th franchise.

While Austin is a great city that should embrace its first major pro franchise, Austin FC shouldn’t expect to make many friends around the league. Austin FC won’t join MLS until 2021, but it is already the league’s most-hated team.

I mean, look at these mentions.

pic.twitter.com/yEw3fVjILT — The Ghost Of Luke Rooney (@ghost_rooney) January 15, 2019

Roundly Disliked Around the League Soccer Team FC — Mark Asher Goodman (@soccer_rabbi) January 15, 2019

Everybody will root against @APrecourt FC. — Justin Scott (@Justinorin_11) January 15, 2019

Two more years for Atlanta to be the most hated team in the league. https://t.co/3pjAjnW1KK — Corbin LeGrand (@vivalablue) January 15, 2019

Precourt still gets what he wants. However, he just won't be able to take the Crew with him. The first Austin at Columbus game is going to be monumental when that happens. https://t.co/ZqhKuIpFYq — John Paul Manahan (@misterjpmanahan) January 15, 2019

I hope @ColumbusCrewSC beats them every time they play by 5-0 margins at the very least. https://t.co/wwIixxoucU — Matt Lichtenstadter (@MattsMusings1) January 15, 2019

So, why does everyone hate Austin FC? The answer is simple: Anthony Precourt.

Precourt owned the Columbus Crew, and announced in 2017 that he planned to relocate the club to Austin because Columbus would not provide a publicly funded stadium. By threatening the move to Austin, Precourt essentially held the club hostage until Jimmy and Dee Haslam partnered with Pete Edwards to save the Crew.

MLS saw the massive public outcry against Precourt’s ownership tactics and still rewarded him with a shiny, new franchise in the city of his choice — all while deserving cities like Sacramento, St. Louis and Phoenix are still vying for the last remaining spot.

Austin has a $225 million, 20,000-seat stadium slated for completion by 2021. Precourt Sports Ventures is funding that project after an agreement with the city.

We already know that Columbus will root viciously against Austin FC. It’s personal for Crew fans. But if MLS decides to stay firm on that 28-team figure, soccer fans from the left-out cities will be rooting against Austin as well.

There are other cities that deserve this, Do we need another Texas team with a half empty stadium? — Matt smith (@msmithrapid) January 15, 2019

@PHXRisingFC better be next — Oubre Fan (@StxfonDiggs) January 15, 2019

Wtf? Why? Sacramento deserves the spot first! #Disappointing — Daniel 🦆 (@ThatDudedannyd) January 15, 2019

Booooo. Let Sacramento Republic in, already. This is getting ridiculous. — Logan Ryan Smith (@LoganRyanSmith) January 15, 2019

It’s an expansion decision that, at least initially, is easy to root against.