By Duncan Mackay
January 5 – Landon Donovan (pictured), the United States best known player and a club-mate of David Beckham’s at Los Angeles Galaxy, tonight warned that Major League Soccer is heading for a lockout when the organisation’s five-year labour contract expires at the end of this month.
The main point of contention is that, 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 and that before July 1, a team can waive a player without having to pay his contract.
The players union have tried to renegotiate the deal but the MLS has so far refused to back down, leading to Donovan releasing a statement through FIFPro, the international union which represents more than 50,000 players across the world, including the US.
Donovan said: ”It is difficult to understand why the owners would take this course, when all we are asking for are the same rights enjoyed by other players around the world, not just in the biggest leagues, but in leagues of all sizes.”
The fact that Donovan, who has represented the US 120 times and hit 42 goals – making him the leading scorer in the country’s history - and recently joined Premier League Everton on a three-month loan deal from Galaxy, has decided to speak out publicly will be seen as a major escalation of the dispute.
Donovan’s team-mate Beckham may earn $6.5 million (£4 million) per year following his move in 2007 from Real Madrid but the average salary for an MLS player is $147,945 (£92,5540).
The median – the point at which an equal amount make above and below – was $88,000 (£55,000) for 323 players listed.
There are growing fears that the dispute could affect the US’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.
Nevertheless Donovan was supported by Kasey Keller (pictured), the former Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City goalkeeper, who also released a statement through FIFPro.
The Seattle Sounders player said: ”What we are looking for are the same basic rights that players enjoy in other leagues around the world.
But MLS President Mark Abbott hit back at FIFPro’s claims and warned they were just making the situation worse.
He said: “Any discussion about a lockout, players’ strike or other work stoppage is premature and frankly counterproductive to our ongoing mutual commitment to reach an agreement.”
FIFPro said: ”Despite months of negotiations the two sides have made little progress on a new deal.
“The league is now threatening to lock the players out on February 1 if the players don’t agree to a continuation of the status quo.”
Before forming a union, MLS players filed an federal anti-trust suit against the MLS.
A jury ruled against the players in 2000.
Abbott said the league complied with FIFA’s regulations and that “it has been proven in Federal Court that the MLS business structure is legal and does not operate as a cartel.”
Abbott added: ”During the last 50 years, there have been multiple failed efforts to launch professional soccer in the United States and Canada.
“In order to avoid this fate, the MLS owners created a structure that has provided stability and growth during the last 15 years.”
Keller said: ”We have made great strides in developing the game in the United States.
“But we can’t truly compete internationally, either for players or fans, with a system that is so radically different than other leagues around the world.”
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