March 5 -Major League Soccer will kick off its 20th campaign as scheduled on Friday after a new collective bargaining agreement was finally put in place at the 11th hour to end the threat of a players’ strike.
The five-year deal was reached between the league and players’ union after four days of negotiations and mirrored a similar situation in 2010 which was also resolved just before the start of the season.
“We are pleased to finalize the framework for a new collective bargaining agreement with our players,” said a relieved MLS commissioner Don Garber.
“We now enter our 20th season with enormous momentum with our new television partnerships, dynamic star players from the US, Canada and abroad, and two new expansion teams in New York City and Orlando.
“This agreement will provide a platform for our players, ownership and management to work together to help build Major League Soccer into one of the great soccer leagues in the world.”
Defending champions Los Angeles Galaxy, captained by Robbie Keane, will open the campaign against Chicago Fire who had flown out LA despite the dispute.
Under the deal, according to US reports, free movement will be granted to players aged 28 who have eight years of MLS service. Under the old agreement, clubs retained the MLS rights of out-of-contract players. The league’s minimum salary will be increased as will the overall squad salary cap.