November 26 – A row between Major League Soccer (MLS) and the MLS Players Union could threaten the United States’ bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup and the participation of the American team at the tournament in South Africa next year, it has been claimed.
MLS players are demanding significant changes to the way their league is organised as part of contract negotiations now entering a critical phase.
Unlike most other professional leagues in the world, player contracts are owned by the MLS rather than the individual clubs and there is no transfer market.
The MLSPU claim that this violates FIFA rules and if the situation is not resolved by January 31, 2010, when their collection bargaining agreement (CBA) ends then it could jeopardise the World Cup bid.
“MLS is governed by the U.S. Soccer Federation, which in turn must answer to FIFA,” the MLSPU claimed in a document obtained and published by SI.com.
“By thumbing its nose at FIFA’s regulations, MLS could jeopardise the US World Cup bid for 2018 and 2022, and could even jeopardise the US. national team’s eligibility for next year’s World Cup.”
Earlier this week FIFPro, the international players association representing professionals from 42 nations, urged FIFA to tackle what it alleges are discrepancies between its statutes and the operating rules of MLS.
It said in a statement: “There are players without a guaranteed contract, player contracts are routinely terminated by the league, MLS acts as a cartel, there is no freedom of movement for any MLS player and virtually any player can be transferred to another club in the league without his consent.
“[We] demand that FIFA take responsibility in these matters, take account of the views of the players and ensure that the [FIFA] regulations are enforced on a global basis, particularly in the USA.”
Don Garber, the MLS Commissioner, expressed his dismay that the World Cup bid had been dragged into the row.
He said: ”It is so disappointing to me that a union representing players from so many countries, many of whom are American players on the World Cup team, would take the approach that their issues in this negotiation should have any impact whatsoever on both the US bid for the World Cup in 2018 or 22 or our team’s role in the 2010 World Cup.
“For the life of me, I can’t understand how this is in the best interests of their members.”