Timbers D Nat Borchers said that he "hasn't witnessed any schism between American and foreign players as it relates to the key issues" in the MLSPU's negotiations with the league toward a new CBA, according to Jeff Carlisle of ESPN FC. With the MLS season scheduled to begin on Friday, talks between the two sides resumed yesterday at the DC offices of the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Services with the hope that the "first work stoppage in league history can be avoided." Questions "have been raised over the last few weeks about whether foreign players, some of whom are the biggest earners in MLS, would be as dedicated to the free agency fight as their North American counterparts." But Borchers "indicated he has full confidence about the unity of the MLSPU members." The league is "completely against any form of free agency," which is the "most contentious issue" in negotiations. The players have "threatened to strike if the new CBA doesn't at least partially address the issue." Minimum salaries and the size of the salary cap "are also among the key issues." A players' strike "seems more likely with each passing day," and a deal before Friday would come only after "major concessions from one side on the free agency issue." The two sides also could "open the season without a new CBA, but that would hint strongly that a broad outline of an agreement has been reached on the big issues, and only minor details remain to be hashed out" (ESPNFC.com, 3/1). REUTERS' Simon Evans reported the MLSPU is "being backed by the international players union FIFPro who lobby world soccer's governing body FIFA over player rights." FIFPro Communications Dir Andrew Orsatti said, "The principle of free agency is one we support wholeheartedly" (REUTERS, 2/28).
LEVERAGE POINTS: ESPN’s Taylor Twellman said, "I do think there will be a last-ditch effort from the players, but ... it's a little different than when I was involved last go-around because you now have more of the foreign player dynamic. I think a big discussion for this union to have, for the players to stay strong, is do the foreign players ... understand what a work stoppage means? Because the stronger the group is together, the stronger the strike." Twellman: "When you look throughout American sports landscapes and their history with work stoppages and strikes, it only works if the owners are going to lose money. That's the real question. If the MLS players union goes on strike, will the owners lose money? Because if so, then they have real leverage. I think that's the biggest question right now. We'll know Tuesday night, Wednesday morning whether or not that strike's going to happen" (“ESPN FC,” ESPNews, 2/27).
