Two days of CBA negotiations ended yesterday with no agreement. The MLS and the Players Union will continue discussions with federal mediator George Cohen at a yet to be determined time.
Toronto FC defender Nick Garcia says MLS players are prepared to strike. “We’re anticipating not having the season starting [on time]. As of now, for us, we’re very far apart — even with the mediator there in D.C. We’re hoping things can get done, but quite frankly I don’t think we’re confident things will.” Great. Just great.
Bill Archer makes the interesting point that the Players Union desire for “basic rights” and concern about “restrictive MLS rules” only applies to American players given the foreign player quota.
Soccerlaw.com says that Landon Donovan’s success in England means that the MLS business model is at a crossroads with respect to contracts.
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak says that the European model of football cannot be sustained: “I am a fan of the American model.”
2011 MLS expansion team the Vancouver Whitecaps hire Paul Barber, former executive director of Tottenham Hotspur, as their new CEO.
The Bleacher Report examines what’s new in the upcoming WPS season.
Clint Dempsey, recovering from a knee injury since January, should be on Fulham’s bench today in the Europa League match against Juventus.
The rebel without conviction
David Beckham, who made his return to Old Trafford in AC Milan’s loss on Wednesday to his old club Manchester United, gets the loudest cheer of his homecoming for wearing an anti-Glazer scarf when leaving the pitch. Later he distanced himself from the gesture saying “I’m a Manchester United fan and when I saw the scarf I wanted to put it round my neck . . . It’s the old colors of United but, to be honest, it’s not my business. I’m a United fan and I support the club. I always will, but it’s got nothing to do with me how it’s run. That’s all to do with other people.” What a pillock.
Today’s Europa League matches are Hamburg v Anderlecht at 1 p.m. and Juventus v Fulham at 3 p.m. Both matches are on GolTV.
Beckham:
He grew up loving Man U, went through their youth system, became a star with, and won many titles with the team, yet, “it’s got nothing to do with [him] how it’s run.” Wow. Too many pr people working for him I guess.