Garber Encouraging EPL Teams To Buy Or Invest In MLS Franchises

Garber Wants To Bring International Minds To MLS; Turns To EPL Clubs

MLS Commissioner Don Garber after "having failed to convince" Spanish La Liga clubs FC Barcelona and Real Madrid to invest in MLS teams or start new franchises, is now "turning his focus" to EPL clubs, according to Rob Harris of the AP. Garber "hasn't given up on forging partnerships that could not only bring in investment but also new methods and links with bigger competitors." Garber: "We think it would be smart for us to have an international team sitting around our board table and helping to influence the way we think and perhaps connect us even more closer with the international community. We tried with FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, and we will continue to talk to the Spanish clubs while finding some way to see if there is an investment opportunity with any of the English clubs." However, Garber added MLS is "not anywhere close to that on any level yet." Garber "argues MLS teams need greater exposure with soccer outside the United States to improve playing standards." Garber: "Just like it's good in my view to have American sports team owners in England, it would be good for MLS to have an English club investing in our league. I would love to see an opportunity for an equity investment. It would be good for us" (AP, 3/3).