U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said that the organization will "reconsider staging matches or conducting other events" in North Carolina following state legislation "critics have called discriminatory" to the LGBT community, according to Steven Goff of the WASHINGTON POST. Gulati said, "The legislation in the year 2016 goes far beyond anything that is appropriate in trying to balance the positions of religious organizations and the long, hard-earned rights by the LGBT community and others." Goff noted the USSF "does not schedule games in North Carolina often," as the men's national team has not appeared there since '06. However, the team "conducted World Cup training camp" in Cary in both '02 and '06. Additionally, the women's team played Switzerland in Cary in '14. Gulati noted that Charlotte was "in the mix for unspecified U.S. matches next year" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 3/30).
A MODEST PROPOSAL: The NBA last week said it could move the '17 All-Star Game from Charlotte as a result of the legislation, but North Carolina state Sen. Jeff Jackson said the NBA is "missing ... that Charlotte did the right thing by standing up for this population." Jackson: "They did the right thing, even though they knew it was going to be hard and they knew it was going to be opposed by the governor. ... Don't punish Charlotte for standing up to the bullies in Raleigh." He added, "Let's do a world class event here in Charlotte and show the rest of the state, we can welcome everyone here." Atlanta has offered to host the game if the league does move it from Charlotte, and Atlanta City Council President Ceasar Mitchell said the NBA "has indicated that it intends to work for Charlotte and see if there's a way to continue to host the game there." Mitchell: "We just want to make sure that the NBA knows that if they have to pivot very quickly, we are here and we're ready and willing to step up and help address this issue by hosting the game in Atlanta." Jackson said the "chances are really good" Charlotte would still host the game ("OTL," ESPN, 3/30).
