MLS Players Unhappy With Small Stake Of SuperLiga Payout
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Union Feels MLS Shortchanging Players
Participating In SuperLiga Tournament |
The MLS Players Union (MLSPU) believes that MLS is "shortchanging the league's participants" in the SuperLiga tournament, according to Frank Dell'Apa of ESPNSOCCERNET.com. The MLSPU is accusing the league of "'unilaterally' determining the players' share will be 15[%] of the $2.5[M] purse." But MLS, under terms of the CBA, "had the right to do so." Players from DC United and the Dynamo, which along with Chivas USA and Revolution comprise MLS' four teams in SuperLiga, "attempted to negotiate a different payment plan with their investors." AEG agreed to give Dynamo players 50% of the take, but that proposal "has been blocked by MLS and a grievance has been filed by Dynamo players." An arbitration ruling is expected to settle the issue. Dell'Apa noted the MLS players' "dissatisfaction level was raised when they heard" that Mexican club Pachuca players received "nearly all of the $1[M] champion's purse" when it defeated the Galaxy to win last season's SuperLiga title. Had the Galaxy won, their players "would have divided $150,000, about $5,300 each." MLSPU Exec Dir Bob Foose said, "We think the SuperLiga is a great tournament. ... But these are hard games for the players and they feel the public is being misled. The league is saying it's a $1[M] tournament, and it's not, for the MLS players." MLS players believe that there are "further disincentives." Since their contracts are "based on league games, they are actually being placed in a position to jeopardize incentives relating to MLS play." Dell'Apa noted this dispute "could be a preview of negotiations for the next CBA" when the current agreement expires in January 2010. The Dynamo case "could set a precedent." If an arbitrator rules in favor of the players, "each MLS team could be allowed to determine payouts to players for tournaments." The dispute "certainly challenges the single-entity system and could become a milestone decision" (ESPNSOCCERNET.com, 7/15). Dynamo players and the front office prior to last year's SuperLiga, the tournament's inaugural year, "sat down to negotiate an in-house bonus structure to complement the league's" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/17).
UNLEVEL PLAYING FIELD: Revolution D and player rep Jay Heaps insisted that the "financial disparity has created an unlevel playing field in terms of compensation for equal work." Heaps: "I think it's just a little disappointing that a thing being billed as a million-dollar tournament is really just not the case. I think the players are frustrated because this tournament could be such a huge positive" (BOSTON HERALD, 7/17).
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