February 28 – The North American Soccer League (NASL) has cancelled its 2018 season with three of its six clubs shifting to the National Premier Soccer League which kicks off this April.
The decision was taken after the NASL failed to receive a preliminary injunction preventing the US Soccer Federation (USSF) from removing its Division II status.
NASL Interim Commissioner Rishi Sehgal said: “The focus of the antitrust suit to date has been obtaining a preliminary injunction to save the 2018 Season. Unfortunately, with USSF’s decision and the loss of the preliminary injunction, playing the 2018 Season is no longer a possibility.”
The NASL is not going down without a fight and Sehgal said: “The focus of the antitrust suit now shifts to securing the long-term advancement of soccer in this country, not only for the NASL, but for all soccer fans, clubs, and communities impacted by the USSF’s restrictions on competition.
“Also, the NASL is prosecuting a breach of fiduciary duty action against certain USSF Board members for conflicts of interest and derelictions of duty which have harmed the NASL and countless other constituents in U.S. Soccer. The NASL and its clubs will look at all avenues to return to the field for the 2019 Season.”
In the meantime the Jacksonville Armada FC, Miami FC, and New York Cosmos, will be play teams in the National Premier Soccer League, ruling out any chance of an amalgamation with the USL, whose Division II status is recognised the USSF.
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