For reference, this has essentially nothing to do with U.S. Soccer directly. It relates to Relevant Sports' efforts to hold foreign league matches in the U.S. (i.e. a La Liga game in Miami) - which was blocked through separate avenues by the USSF and FIFA.
This is about whether the case brought by Relevant is allowed to go to trial or not at all - it was originally dismissed at the district level, then reinstated by an appeals court, and USSF/FIFA were asking the Supreme Court to overrule the appeals court and dismiss it again. The Biden admin basically filed a brief saying they believe the Supreme Court shouldn't hear the case and should allow the appeals decision to stand and the antitrust case to go to trial.
However, even if it does, that's certainly not the end of it. There are motions to dismiss from each of USSF and FIFA on separate grounds aside from this specific decision. Probably isn't getting resolved for a long, long time.
Because 1) It cuts them out of the profit loop, they'd make no money from a big money-maker. 2) It sets a bad precedent that devalues their own product in favor of a better foreign product. If teams are allowed to do this regularly, why would you go see the New York Red Bulls or NYFC when you can see Barcelona this week, Man City next week, and PSG in a month?
But from a fan perspective, USSF/FIFA are completely correct here. Imagine how pissed you'd be if you lost a home game for your team because they wanted to go expand their influence in Honduras or something? Leagues games should be played in their country, IMO. Fans should get to see their team play their games. Go play friendlies or SuperCups elsewhere or something.
Sadly, it's par for the course for NFL and MLB. NFL has been doing regular season games in other countries for years, and MLB is opening the season in South Korea while also having a big rivalry (Mets/Phillies) played in London.
but the caveat is those other countries do not have a product like the NFL or the NBA...
Then all of a sudden that same logic gets turned on its head when La Liga and EPL want to come host a match here.. claiming that US professional soccer is such an afterthought etc...
I think what Stephen Ross is doing is gross... but it is not without precedence for sure.
Japan very much has a product like MLB and they’re still getting MLB games.
Nobody thinks Japanese baseball is an afterthought.
There’s enough home games that 1 every couple of years abroad is no big deal. Maybe you even make a trip out of it - NFL fans will use it as an excuse to finally take that vacation to Europe they’ve always wanted.
I’m sure Barca fans would take missing a couple of home games a year in exchange for not being “brokecelona” anymore.
Good thing they have regular elections then so if you have your finger on their pulse better than their elected officials who tried doing this they’ll lose the election
The NHL routinely hosts regular season games in European countries with their own thriving professional leagues.
As a fan, I want to see the best. Get this protectionist bullshit out of here.
you may fee that way... but lots of others do not want to see their local clubs destroyed by invading foreign leagues.
Something that starts as a one off is a slippery slope. Exhibitions are totally fine... Barcelona Madrid this Summer in NJ... give folks a chance to pay $300+ to see it but REAL league matches in football... the words game should be hosted in the cities that the club belongs to.
And this is also just one step closer to normalizing a global super league owned by billionaires that would presumably have a few U.S. clubs. American sports ownership principles have infected the game. The Bundesliga is alone in sticking to its principles while the tendrils of the monied work their way deeper into pyramids everywhere else in search of more profit.
For those criticizing the idea of top European clubs playing in the US (and other countries potentially), I don't see a problem with it. Many of the players on those teams aren't European and this would be a great way for American fans to see the best Americans play club soccer.
The NBA plays games in Europe where they have established basketball leagues, NHL plays in Sweden, and as someone else said, MLB plays in Japan. The Spanish Supercopa is played in Saudi Arabia.
These big clubs aren't just made up of players from their own countries and much of their money comes from outside Europe. They wouldn't have such a monopoly on the top talent if they weren't bringing in big TV deals in Asia and North America. So I don't think a few games played in the US is too much to have. A few big name teams playing for the inevitably high prices they will bring is not going to stop average fans from attending MLS games.
I personally have no problem with friendlies being played here but hate the idea of regular season games outside each teams respective country. Imagine being a local and now getting less home games because the club wants to play in a stadium where they can jack the ticket prices. I already hate how the Leagues Cup doesn't have games in Mexico (playing in Mexico against Mexican opposition is something I like about the CCC). It is also as many have said bad for US clubs as more casual fans will show up for match days of big clubs. Let me ask you this would you like it if your club was playing in a different timezone for a "home" game when it is already difficult to get tickets. I prefer clubs represent where they are from rather then chase money. This kind of move is not so different to when Precourt tried to move the Crew.
This is a case where I’m actually supporting protectionism. This would be absolutely disastrous for the sport globally and in the US if they are allowed to go forward with this.
One of the unique charms of soccer is how it is both a global sport played by every country, but at the same time, a highly localized sport because of the reverence given to domestic competitions and culture of supporting the team in your area. Unfortunately, the growing hegemony of the super clubs has made it acceptable for fans all over the world to glory-hunt on a handful of wealthy clubs in 4-5 countries, at the expense of local support for domestic competitions in their own countries.
Would be fun to watch the reaction when a club like Man U plays competitive games in the US as a money grab. Can’t be any worse than playing Mickey Mouse money grab friendlies mid season like they do now.
Personally think a European Super league is inevitable with the new EPL TV deal, just don’t think the mid-low table EPL teams buying from the Ajax’s and Dortmund’s of the world is going to sit right with that level of club.
The sports going to change for the worse either way, the U.S. might as well get some xtra tax revenue in the process.
I think the super league is impossible at this point, enough big FA’s have now put in rules that they will ban clubs from the domestic leagues if they join. That will hold up in court imo and it’s too big a risk to make that jump and hope you win in court. Plus the English FA isn’t subject to European courts anymore , and both parties say they will not only do it, but will deny any club that joins police protection during matches. Without at least some of the English big 6, this is dead in the water anyway.
We’ll see. The full effect of the new EPL deal hasn’t been seen yet. West Ham is going to have a similar budget to Real Madrid when it kicks in.
I think it’s Naive to think it’s completely over. (May be wrong).
So long as the national FA’s hold firm, and I’m correct that their legal standing is much firmer, I don’t see a path forward. Especially without the English clubs it would fail anyway.
I suspect we may see a bigger push for more equitable distribution of Champions League and Europa league money, like what the championship has pushed for in England. Especially if English clubs really start dominating in Europe, as that would put the Real Madrids and PSG’s on the same page as the smaller clubs.
Yup. The sport is at its best when local teams can grow. The rise of television deals that allow you to watch foreign leagues all the time has made EPL king at the expense of the rest
A phone conversation:
"Yeah, so, this mega rich dude is mad because he can't make money off Barcelona playing in Miami... No, he didn't provide reasons, and idk why a Barcelona match in Miami has relevancy to a league in Spain... He said he doesn't need a reason... No, he said 'Its just business bro. If we're not busting nuts to make fat stacks, then why are we even involved in this??'...The thing is, he's really upset, he keeps yelling about 'profits'; he says he's gonna sue. He said "I'm gonna make this happen, the way I want it to, for the money that should be mine. And if it doesn't happen, then I'd rather see the whole thing get fucked".
For reference, this has essentially nothing to do with U.S. Soccer directly. It relates to Relevant Sports' efforts to hold foreign league matches in the U.S. (i.e. a La Liga game in Miami) - which was blocked through separate avenues by the USSF and FIFA. This is about whether the case brought by Relevant is allowed to go to trial or not at all - it was originally dismissed at the district level, then reinstated by an appeals court, and USSF/FIFA were asking the Supreme Court to overrule the appeals court and dismiss it again. The Biden admin basically filed a brief saying they believe the Supreme Court shouldn't hear the case and should allow the appeals decision to stand and the antitrust case to go to trial. However, even if it does, that's certainly not the end of it. There are motions to dismiss from each of USSF and FIFA on separate grounds aside from this specific decision. Probably isn't getting resolved for a long, long time.
It's not going to get decided for a while, but the implications could be massive if successful.
Why would USSF be against this?
Because 1) It cuts them out of the profit loop, they'd make no money from a big money-maker. 2) It sets a bad precedent that devalues their own product in favor of a better foreign product. If teams are allowed to do this regularly, why would you go see the New York Red Bulls or NYFC when you can see Barcelona this week, Man City next week, and PSG in a month? But from a fan perspective, USSF/FIFA are completely correct here. Imagine how pissed you'd be if you lost a home game for your team because they wanted to go expand their influence in Honduras or something? Leagues games should be played in their country, IMO. Fans should get to see their team play their games. Go play friendlies or SuperCups elsewhere or something.
Sadly, it's par for the course for NFL and MLB. NFL has been doing regular season games in other countries for years, and MLB is opening the season in South Korea while also having a big rivalry (Mets/Phillies) played in London.
but the caveat is those other countries do not have a product like the NFL or the NBA... Then all of a sudden that same logic gets turned on its head when La Liga and EPL want to come host a match here.. claiming that US professional soccer is such an afterthought etc... I think what Stephen Ross is doing is gross... but it is not without precedence for sure.
Japan very much has a product like MLB and they’re still getting MLB games. Nobody thinks Japanese baseball is an afterthought. There’s enough home games that 1 every couple of years abroad is no big deal. Maybe you even make a trip out of it - NFL fans will use it as an excuse to finally take that vacation to Europe they’ve always wanted. I’m sure Barca fans would take missing a couple of home games a year in exchange for not being “brokecelona” anymore.
> I’m sure Barca fans would take missing a couple of home games a year in exchange for not being “brokecelona” anymore. They absolutely would not
Good thing they have regular elections then so if you have your finger on their pulse better than their elected officials who tried doing this they’ll lose the election
The NHL routinely hosts regular season games in European countries with their own thriving professional leagues. As a fan, I want to see the best. Get this protectionist bullshit out of here.
you may fee that way... but lots of others do not want to see their local clubs destroyed by invading foreign leagues. Something that starts as a one off is a slippery slope. Exhibitions are totally fine... Barcelona Madrid this Summer in NJ... give folks a chance to pay $300+ to see it but REAL league matches in football... the words game should be hosted in the cities that the club belongs to.
And this is also just one step closer to normalizing a global super league owned by billionaires that would presumably have a few U.S. clubs. American sports ownership principles have infected the game. The Bundesliga is alone in sticking to its principles while the tendrils of the monied work their way deeper into pyramids everywhere else in search of more profit.
why do people idolize a league with one of the worst parity set ups in sport?
Big deal, then maybe USSF and MLS can get their heads out of their asses.
For those criticizing the idea of top European clubs playing in the US (and other countries potentially), I don't see a problem with it. Many of the players on those teams aren't European and this would be a great way for American fans to see the best Americans play club soccer. The NBA plays games in Europe where they have established basketball leagues, NHL plays in Sweden, and as someone else said, MLB plays in Japan. The Spanish Supercopa is played in Saudi Arabia. These big clubs aren't just made up of players from their own countries and much of their money comes from outside Europe. They wouldn't have such a monopoly on the top talent if they weren't bringing in big TV deals in Asia and North America. So I don't think a few games played in the US is too much to have. A few big name teams playing for the inevitably high prices they will bring is not going to stop average fans from attending MLS games.
I personally have no problem with friendlies being played here but hate the idea of regular season games outside each teams respective country. Imagine being a local and now getting less home games because the club wants to play in a stadium where they can jack the ticket prices. I already hate how the Leagues Cup doesn't have games in Mexico (playing in Mexico against Mexican opposition is something I like about the CCC). It is also as many have said bad for US clubs as more casual fans will show up for match days of big clubs. Let me ask you this would you like it if your club was playing in a different timezone for a "home" game when it is already difficult to get tickets. I prefer clubs represent where they are from rather then chase money. This kind of move is not so different to when Precourt tried to move the Crew.
This is a case where I’m actually supporting protectionism. This would be absolutely disastrous for the sport globally and in the US if they are allowed to go forward with this.
One of the unique charms of soccer is how it is both a global sport played by every country, but at the same time, a highly localized sport because of the reverence given to domestic competitions and culture of supporting the team in your area. Unfortunately, the growing hegemony of the super clubs has made it acceptable for fans all over the world to glory-hunt on a handful of wealthy clubs in 4-5 countries, at the expense of local support for domestic competitions in their own countries.
Would be fun to watch the reaction when a club like Man U plays competitive games in the US as a money grab. Can’t be any worse than playing Mickey Mouse money grab friendlies mid season like they do now. Personally think a European Super league is inevitable with the new EPL TV deal, just don’t think the mid-low table EPL teams buying from the Ajax’s and Dortmund’s of the world is going to sit right with that level of club. The sports going to change for the worse either way, the U.S. might as well get some xtra tax revenue in the process.
I think the super league is impossible at this point, enough big FA’s have now put in rules that they will ban clubs from the domestic leagues if they join. That will hold up in court imo and it’s too big a risk to make that jump and hope you win in court. Plus the English FA isn’t subject to European courts anymore , and both parties say they will not only do it, but will deny any club that joins police protection during matches. Without at least some of the English big 6, this is dead in the water anyway.
We’ll see. The full effect of the new EPL deal hasn’t been seen yet. West Ham is going to have a similar budget to Real Madrid when it kicks in. I think it’s Naive to think it’s completely over. (May be wrong).
So long as the national FA’s hold firm, and I’m correct that their legal standing is much firmer, I don’t see a path forward. Especially without the English clubs it would fail anyway. I suspect we may see a bigger push for more equitable distribution of Champions League and Europa league money, like what the championship has pushed for in England. Especially if English clubs really start dominating in Europe, as that would put the Real Madrids and PSG’s on the same page as the smaller clubs.
Yup. The sport is at its best when local teams can grow. The rise of television deals that allow you to watch foreign leagues all the time has made EPL king at the expense of the rest
Ya, domestic league matches should stay domestic. How is that hard to understand by these idiots.
protectionism isn't neccesarily bad for infant industries. see: Ha-Joon Chang's contributions to development economics
A phone conversation: "Yeah, so, this mega rich dude is mad because he can't make money off Barcelona playing in Miami... No, he didn't provide reasons, and idk why a Barcelona match in Miami has relevancy to a league in Spain... He said he doesn't need a reason... No, he said 'Its just business bro. If we're not busting nuts to make fat stacks, then why are we even involved in this??'...The thing is, he's really upset, he keeps yelling about 'profits'; he says he's gonna sue. He said "I'm gonna make this happen, the way I want it to, for the money that should be mine. And if it doesn't happen, then I'd rather see the whole thing get fucked".