By Ben Nicholson
January 9 – Debate over the eligibility of Frank Lampard to stay playing in England at Manchester City and miss the start of the MLS season for his new club New York City (NYFC) has continued over where NYCFC stands in relation to the contractual ownership of the player. The issue has raised questions on the status and commitment of Steven Gerrard who leaves Liverpool to join LA Galaxy in July. Meanwhile David Beckham’s own US plans are delayed.
NYCFC had posted on its website that they had signed Lampard to “a two year contract which starts August 1.”
However, now, the terminology has changed. References to a loan have been expunged. It turns out that Lampard was signed last July by City Football Group (CFG), the umbrella company that owns both Manchester City and NYCFC.
Therefore, as the Premier League maintains, Lampard’s contract with Manchester City has merely been extended and does not fall foul of any regulatory standards.
Since Lampard’s contract is with the CFG, the possibility remains that he never joins NYCFC at all, but instead continues into the 2015/2016 Premier League season with Manchester City – a sentiment that has been speculated about by aggrieved NYCFC supporters who feel they have been duped into buying tickets and merchandise on the basis that Lampard would open with the start of the club’s inaugural season.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber remains optimistic that Lampard will eventually make his way across the pond onto MLS soil. He stated, “I think it’s important to say this: These guys [NYCFC] are very committed to MLS and committed to New York. They have made an unprecedented investment in MLS and New York City, and they are going to continue to do so.”
The Lampard debacle has raised suspicion over the intentions of CFG.
In the past 24 months, CFG has added three clubs to its books (NYC FC, Melbourne FC and Yokohama F. Marinos) using the same model of majority ownership combined with a minority shareholder that has great presence within the region.
The idea has circulated that these clubs are being created so as to provide Manchester City easy access to players when needed. However, this is an unlikely scenario for it is doubtful that these clubs are likely to have significant numbers of players that could contribute to Premier League winning standards.
It is more likely that Manchester City is finding novel ways to navigate Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations, which prevents wealthy owners from infinitely investing in a club by limiting the amount of debt it may accrue without punishment.
Manchester City has reduced their staff numbers whilst simultaneously seeing a large increase in external charges (from $26 million to $90 million over the course of 2013/2014). The suggestion is that scouting and other such related expenses have been taken off Manchester City’s books and dispersed amongst CFG’s other clubs.
The club has denied such allegations but, regardless, it does look like a clever business arrangement.
As the east coast of the US is questioning their star acquisitions’ commitment to the MLS, the west coast is set to be asking and answering a similar question.
LA Galaxy recently signed Steven Gerrard. Gerrard has said that he would not have signed for the MLS club had Liverpool wanted to stay and that Brendan Rodgers’ conversation with Gerrard that they will have to start “managing his playing time” seemingly prompted his move away from his lifelong club.
Yet the possibility exists that LA Galaxy could loan Gerrard back to Liverpool (using the term loan in the proper sense this time round). LA Galaxy’s President, Chris Klein, stated that the potential loaning of Gerrard “has never been discussed”, whilst maintaining that his “focus will be LA Galaxy.”
Gerrard echoed Klein’s statement, saying, “I’ve not even thought about the possibility of a loan”. Although he claims he has “not had that conversation with anyone”, he also says that he “can’t rule it out”.
The option is available at least for him to copy what Thierry Henry did in going on a short-term loan back to Arsenal. For now, Gerrard is expected to make his debut for LA Galaxy on July 17 against San Jose Earthquakes.
Beckham stadium hunt making ‘strides’
Meanwhile Lampard and Gerrard’s former England teammate David Beckham, the most iconic player of his generation, has a different issue over getting settled in the US in his pursuit of an MLS expansion franchise in Miami.
Sources close to Miami Beckham United say that announcements regarding a stadium location for the club are imminent. John Alschuler, the group’s real estate advisor stated, “We have made very meaningful strides in the last couple of months”.
News about these strides is expected in the first quarter of 2015.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734880456labto1734880456ofdlr1734880456owedi1734880456sni@n1734880456osloh1734880456cin.n1734880456eb1734880456