Right now, as we speak, the start of the 2024 Major League Soccer Season is set to begin with two major issues hanging over its head. Their continued plan to remove themselves from the Open Cup, locking out the match officials and bringing in replacement referees. This brand-new season is looking very grim.
Right now, with all the referee clinics going on and the additional usage of VAR for our match officials in MLS, how will these referees work in leagues below MLS be competent enough and get up to speed and know what they need to do either on the pitch at MLS Stadiums or in the VAR war room down in Atlanta? This entire situation is a mess, and sadly, there is nothing to stop it unless MLS goes back to the negotiating table with the PSRA and removes the lockout.
When it comes to the US Open Cup, opt-out situation, the demand of having 40% of the gate when on the road at USL Stadiums, or other issues they feel would hamper their bottom line is not the way these things work in this sport. I understand that MLS is looking out for their interests, and that's fine. When they need to find ways to be sure their side of things is in a strong position, that is what they need to do.
But they are failing to understand this sport has many layers, and they need to share certain things on a national and an international level. Then, they must abide by the bylaws of their Soccer Federation and the International governing body. What has happened with their bullying their way into going against their participation in the Open Cup and forcing the Leagues Cup to be accepted by CONCACAF is nothing short of making both bodies redundant.
That's not how it's supposed to work. But to be fair, the governing body of American Soccer hasn't been that competent in a very long time. No matter how much certain people cared about the sport, their efforts were weak and laughable. You remember the billion-dollar goal documentary before being awarded the 1994 World Cup. US Soccer's earlier proposal for the 1986 World Cup was awarded to Mexico because their attempt was weak and flimsy. If not for that magical afternoon in Port of Spain, Trinidad, the sport wouldn't be where it is today.
But at the same time, if not for Major League Soccer not becoming our First Division and for Don Garber to enhance it when he saw the issues getting bigger to release two clubs and hope for three owners to keep the remaining ten afloat, our first division wouldn't have survived. Now, with twenty-nine teams in two countries and a thirtieth on its way to San Diego, there are positives from the growth of what MLS has done, and it has also helped USL and NPSL grow their leagues.
That also meant the partnership of MLS and US Soccer on the marketing side was a much-needed moment. To gain strength and help one another, but that has been the biggest problem. While Sunil Gulati was a knowledgeable soccer guy, we now know he had flaws, which caused the slowing down of this game's growth. When Cindy Parlow-Cone and J.T. Batson took over running US Soccer, I wanted to see what they would do, and while rehiring Gregg Berhalter was a disappointment, I needed to see these two come together to grow the sport better.
After separating themselves from Soccer United Marketing, making that decision in-house has been a positive. They have made a broadcast deal with Turner Sports and had a big moment when CBS Sports came in to broadcast several US Open Cup matches, with both semis and the Final. Telemundo/NBC came in to broadcast both semis and final as well. All because of Lionel Messi coming in, and it has rubbed MLS the wrong way. Right now, I am giving a lot of credit to both Parlow-Cone & Batson for standing up to MLS and sticking with their bylaws, which are the Pro League Standards.
While Kartik Krishnaiyer and I were hosting the space on Monday night, February 19th, both Herculez Gomez and Sebastian Salazar discussed this situation on their Futbol Americas show on ESPN+, and Herc also said MLS doesn't want to share Messi with the Open Cup. This situation has been nothing more than a power-money grab from day one. MLS owners who want to play hardball with US Soccer continuing to force their hand to leave the competition is the wrong way to go.
I have been saying that US Soccer should threaten MLS to remove their Division One Sanctioning and their Division Three sanctioning of MLS Next Pro because I have felt they needed to be taught a lesson, but that nuclear option right now hasn't been broached. While it is sad that Artur Mattson has stepped down as the head of the Open Cup Committee, I don't blame him, as all the hard work to make this competition better and more visible is getting sabotaged.
MLS must understand that what they are doing is wrong and hurting everyone. Hurting their players, coaches, fans, the entire American Soccer community, and finally, they are hurting themselves. Making these demands and quickly losing the PR war they have put themselves in. It truly saddens me that this could've been avoided behind closed doors, and cooler heads could've prevailed. Instead, it's escalated by a thousand times. They feel emboldened because the greatest footballer of all time right now is in MLS, and all they see are the dollar signs floating around Messi's head.
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy he's here in MLS, but after that failure of an international pre-season tour, bringing in his old friend Luis Suarez, issues with the Inter Miami roster to start the season to be compliant with the rules, will this still be a success with him missing time for Argentina in a friendly, Copa America and CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying because they won't take time off during International breaks and shoving Leagues Cup down our throats?
US Soccer has bent over backward to accommodate everything MLS has needed to make everything work in their favor. Now it's time for the league to return that favor and stop trying to interfere and ruining the game for everyone and time to start acknowledging that our officials need to be respected for their hard work and give them fair compensation in a new collective bargaining agreement, no one is winning right now, all of us are losing including MLS.
Was there a live-stream that you and Kartik were hosting on Monday night? I would be crushed if I missed it!!
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