Major League Soccer Statement on Ongoing Discussions with MLSPA

“Major League Soccer met with MLSPA and the players yesterday to continue discussions on how to deal with the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we remain very distant, we will be extending the negotiation period of 30 days of a week to provide all opportunities to finalize a deal As part of the extension, MLS and MLSPA have committed to a regular schedule of meetings over the next few days.

“MLS had made a thoughtful, fair and straightforward proposal to pay players 100% of their compensation in 2021 in exchange for a two-year ABC extension until the 2027 season. In our discussions with the MLSPA, We have stressed the importance of the two-year extension to allow the league and clubs to recoup some of the losses suffered in 2021 from the pandemic while protecting the long-term health of the league. by providing stability that promotes continued investment. Importantly, MLS’s proposal does not include any structural changes to the ABC and does not request any additional restrictions on players’ free agency rights during the term.

“Given the impact of COVID-19 on the way clubs will have to operate during the preseason, we need to finalize a deal in the coming days in order to give teams and players enough time to prepare for the event. opening of training camps. If we are unable to finalize a new CBA by 11:59 p.m. ET on February 4, the MLS Labor Committee has voted unanimously to allow the league to end the CBA and institute a lockdown. -out. To be clear, we are committed to making a deal and we will make ourselves available at any time in any format to meet with MLSPA and the players. Given the ongoing pandemic, the league will continue to pay health insurance premiums for players and their families in the event of a lockout.