By Ben Nicholson
July 3 – The MLS is reportedly set to make changes to their existing rules regarding salary caps. The league has allegedly already held a league-wide call about adding, what is essentially, an extra designated player spot, in terms of a “core player” – a player who may earn over the salary cap.
Suspicions were raised when rumors surfaced that LA Galaxy, who already have three designated players in Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane and Omar Gonzalez, were looking to acquire Mexican national team, and former Tottenham and Barcelona player, Giovani Dos Santos.
As it is unthinkable that he would join the MLS on one of the common folk’s pay, sitting at a meager maximum of $436,250 per annum, it could only mean the league is planning to move their regulatory goalposts once more.
Any change in the rule would significantly benefit the clubs in major cities who have the ability to attract foreign stars with big money. The news is perhaps less exciting for the Real Salt Lakes of the league, who are unlikely to capitalise on the salary cap leverage by virtue of Utah appearing a less desirable destination than, say, New York or Los Angeles.
The league appears to be transitioning philosophically, straying further from its commitment to leveling the competitive playing field between clubs by allowing those few with the resources and attraction to solicit their way to hiring the top players with tourist attraction and monetary seduction.
Earlier this year, two months into the 2015 season and long after the collective bargaining negotiation troubles between the league and its players, the league finally released its roster rules for the season. The league spoke of providing greater transparency and streamlining the process for how MLS clubs acquire players.
The labyrinth of rules, with designated players, allocation money, salary caps, international player caps, Generation adidas players and superdrafts, though, look as transparent as does a glass of milk to a glaucoma sufferer. With the league tinkering ever more with the regulations it seems like their shots at their professed goals are off-target.
A conceded virtue, though, in respect to the “core player” rule is that the term is at least in the public domain. It remains yet to be seen whether the league will flesh out the concept to the fans in time for anyone to comprehend the happenings of player acquisitions before the fact.
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