Landon Donovan has "decided not to run" for USSF President because he "wants to stay out of the political side and dedicate his time and energy to improving the game at all levels," according to sources cited by Jeff Carlisle of ESPN FC. Sources previously said Donovan had been "mulling over his options." Donovan has "long been a respected figure in the game, but his lack of business experience created a gap in his credentials." Seven candidates have "officially declared their intentions" to run for the position (ESPNFC.us, 11/8).
WHERE HAVE WE SEEN THIS BEFORE? YAHOO SPORTS' Leander Schaerlaeckens noted this election is "turning wacky, with the ambitious coming out of the woodwork as they sense opportunity." It has the "feeling of the Republican primary race" for the '16 presidential election, with a "crowded field and no obvious front-runner, making it a long-odds race for all candidates." Should current USSF President Sunil Gulati run, he "has an obvious advantage." The USSF constituency is "made up of members of youth, adult and pro councils, an athletes council, board members, life members and a fan representative," and Gulati has "had a stranglehold on U.S. Soccer’s power structure for over a decade." A loud segment of the fan base may "badly want a change at the top ... but the voters are largely the products of a federation meticulously built by Gulati." It will take an "enormous upset to dethrone him, assuming he runs." The candidates who plan to run "range from comically unqualified to merely dark horses." There is "no one obvious replacement for Gulati." USSF VP Carlos Cordeiro "seems to have obvious qualifications but would likely suffer from his close association to Gulati." Even if Gulati "remains in power, as he likely will, going through this exercise is useful." Turning an "uncontested formality into a real election not only offers the voters a choice, but it creates a record that he can be held to account for" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/7).
