League Championship side Leeds United Owner Andrea Radrizzani said that Major League Soccer has the opportunity to be one of the biggest and most popular football leagues in the world, but only if it ditches the salary cap. Radrizzani, who is also chair and founder of Eleven Sports, said, "I believe the MLS could be the biggest opportunity." The Italian, speaking at the Leaders Sport Business Summit in London, pointed to the high standard of facilities and the keen sporting culture in the U.S. but said the status of MLS was being undermined by the quality of players.
"The only thing that could close the gap is bringing in the best players," he said. He also said the MLS should scrap its salary cap, echoing calls previously made by former Juventus player Andrea Pirlo, who also played for NYCFC. Pirlo has also called for the MLS to end its restrictions on foreign players if its wants to keep pace with the Chinese Super League’s riches.
Radrizzani was on a panel with Megha Parekh, SVP & chief legal officer of the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars are owned by Shahid Khan, who also owns EPL side Fulham. Parekh compared running Fulham to the Jaguars, with the former being more challenging.
Parekh: "I think that it makes the business planning more challenging when you are looking at football because there is the X factor of how will regulation affect the overall P&L? That said, we approach it as best we can to be analytical. To predict what is the probability of being relegated." She said that Khan’s execs devised business plans for whether Fulham would stay in the Premier League or be relegated.
John Reynolds is a writer in London.
