Major League Soccer’s player’s union fired back at management Sunday, blaming the league for a potential strike. Notable quote from union chief Bob Foose to the AP: “It will also be a shame if the league’s refusal to improve its system results in a work stoppage.”

More on strike talks from the Washington Post, Soccer America,  Soccer by Ives and Goal.com. They’re all worth reading.

Bleacher Report talks about what Lincoln Financial Field means to international soccer here in Philadelphia.  (If you haven’t seen a soccer match at the Linc yet, you’ll find it’s a good place to watch a game.)

CSNPhilly.com has a story on Philadelphia Union forward Sebastien Le Toux.

U.S. U-17 midfielder Luis Gil signed with MLS and will be allocated through a weighted draft today.

Soccer America has an interesting piece the crossing pass and its use around the world – and particularly in England, where it is loved.

Union defender Michael Orozco won’t play in this week’s friendly in El Salvador after not making coach Bob Bradley’s squad.

News from the rivals: D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls play to a scoreless tie in a Florida friendly.

Two Chinese first division clubs have been relegated as part of a gambling and match-fixing scandal.  (One of the clubs is owned by Sheffield United of England.) Cheating in Chinese sports? Never. Not from the country that had a pretty girl lip-sync at the 2008 Olympics opening ceremony because the real singer wasn’t pretty enough.

A brief update from the Philadelphia Business Journal on the Union’s stadium.