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January 6, 2010
LITTLE PROGRESS, MANY WORDS
MLS, players union disagree on several key points in CBA negotiations
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
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Seattle Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller: "What we are looking for are the same basic rights that players enjoy in other leagues around the world."
Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images |
The clock is ticking. MLS and the MLS Players Union have until Jan. 31 to hammer out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement or pre-season training, which is supposed to begin Feb. 1, will be delayed.
While nothing has been finalized, both sides have fired salvos at each other publicly.
The players fear a lockout with occur if a CBA is not reached. According to FIFPro, the world players union, little progress has been made in negotiations.
"The league shutting down MLS in February would do real damage to the development of the game in the United States and to our efforts to prepare for South Africa," U.S. international and L.A. Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan was quoted on the FIFPro website.
"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," added Donovan, who is on loan to Everton (England) through March 15.
The league, however, claims that isn't the case.
"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 between management and the players," MLS president Mark Abbott said in a statement.
According to FIFPro, MLS has operated as a cartel. FIFPro also said that MLS is different from other leagues in the world and that it violates FIFA regulations.
It cited that player contracts can be terminated at the league's discretion at any time and that 80 percent of the players do not have guaranteed contracts, that every player's contract must be signed with the league instead of with his club, that the contract of practically every player has several one-year options that can only be exercised by MLS and that there is no freedom of movement for any player to other MLS teams.
"What we are looking for are the same basic rights that players enjoy in other leagues around the world," Seattle Sounders FC and former U.S. international goalkeeper Kasey Keller said in a statement. "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."
Abbott denied that MLS was not following FIFA rules.
"The statement regarding MLS issued by the MLS players . . . contains many inaccuracies including the false assertion that MLS is not compliant with the FIFA regulations," he said in a statement. "MLS is in fact operating in compliance and the players are simply wrong on this point. Also, contrary to the union’s claims, it has been proven in federal court that the MLS business structure is legal and does not operate as a cartel."
Abbott said the only way to ensure a soccer league would have staying power would be to have to have single-entity setup.
"During the last 50 years, there have been multiple failed efforts to launch professional soccer in the United States and Canada," he said. "In order to avoid this fate, the MLS owners created a structure that has provided stability and growth during the last 15 years while creating opportunity for the sport. We will continue to negotiate in good faith with the players regarding a new CBA."
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