MLS blocks Red Bulls bid for Kandji

The Red Bulls' quest to sign Macoumba Kandji this season has ended, with Major League Soccer pulling the plug on the potential $200,000 transfer bid for the 23-year-old Senegalese striker.

According to sources with knowledge of the transfer discussions, the New York Red Bulls have ceased their quest to sign the Atlanta Silverbacks striker after Major League Soccer officials balked at allowing an MLS team pay a $200,000 transfer fee for a USL player.

Atlanta's insistence on a $200,000 transfer fee, an extremely high figure for a USL player but one Atlanta felt was fair value for such a young and talented forward, was the sticking point that MLS couldn't get beyond. This despite the fact that the Red Bulls were willing to pay Atlanta's asking price.

The Red Bulls secured the necessary funds to pay the asking price for Kandji when it traded goalkeeper Zach Thornton to Chivas USA for an allocation worth approximately $75,000, only to have MLS officials step in and determine that paying such a high price for a USL player would set a dangerous precedent for MLS. The issue was not the transfer fee itself, as MLS teams are allowed to pay transfer fees as long as the fees are paid using allocation funds.

The Red Bulls are still testing the MLS trade waters in their search for a speedy forward, but the wide-open playoff race has most teams reluctant to make any trades at this point in the year. The Red Bulls may wind up adding Gambian Sainey Touray, who has been on trial with the Red Bulls. The club is also looking at Crystal Palace Baltimore speedster Matthew Mbuta, a Cameroon-born winger/midfielder who looked very impressive in Crystal Palace's U.S. Open Cup upset win against the Red Bulls on July 2nd.

It's time for a poll. What do you think of the way MLS handled the Kandji transfer situation?

poll by twiigs.com

What's my take? I think it's a pretty sad statement that MLS would block the Red Bulls from making a $200,000 transfer purchase just a few months after the league profited greatly from selling Red Bulls star Jozy Altidore for a reported $10 million. Something needs to change in the way the league does things because it's a bit absurd for a small office of a handful of officials to be responsible for what 14 professional teams do.

What do you think of MLS' decision? Like it? Hate it? Think it's time for the league's single-entity structure to go away? Think MLS needs to loosen its restrictions on personnel moves?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[Tim]

Wow, this is why everyone hates the people running MLS. They run the MLS like a small communist country.

[Hincha Tim]

I think it's time to do away with the single entity structure and go to a salary cap/transfer cap system. And what's wrong with giving $200K to a USL-1 team so they can use it for player acquisitions/development. It only helps the MLS in the long run since USL is basically the farm system for the MLS. On the face of it, a stupid move by the MLS, although I don't have all the facts in front of me.

[Red Bull Salsbury]

This is great! Now we can go after Wiltord!

[Jon E]

I understand MLS' desire to contain costs and wanting to keep USL fees low and rare, but surely they have to actually think about their decisions on particular players. How many times does a player like this come out of the USL?

If a twenty-three-year-old player with (from what I've heard) a lot of pace, remarkable endurance, and visible potential pans out, he'll bring a lot more than $200k on the European transfer market next year. Maybe even next winter. And if he doesn't, well, there are no guarantees in sports.

[Michael Vann]

Piss poort decision by the league. If RBNY viewed Kandji worthy of a 200K transfer they should of been allowed to pull the trigger. If baffles me that the league would slam the door shut on a player for 200K but they have no problem shelling out (moreso in the past) mega bucks for washed up Euro players. Kandji is a very talented player and I see no reason why this would would set a "dangerous precedent for MLS" as the league put it. That's ridiculous. It's not common place to pay that kind of cash for a USL player but if anyone in the league office paid attention they would see Kandji's talent. Furthermore, playing devil's advocate (and if Seatle weren't moving to MLS),would the league of vetoed a transfer if a club came calling for Sébastien Le Toux?

[Ed]

Good for MLS.

[Coach]

I hate the MLS rules, but I think the league did us a favor here. Save the money for a proven MLS performer or quality international.

As for this year, everything depends on Angel's health and the performance of the jeckyll & hyde defense, not a second striker from USL.

[Al17]

This is bad on all fronts. Bad for all teams in MLS, bad for many players in USL and lower divisions and one could argue very bad for American players. The league which bills itself as the American league won't allow a club to spend money on a player in a lower league within the US but has no problem breaking the bank if need be for players coming from leagues outside the country. Come on, if RedBulls want to spend that much money then let them. They're the ones footing the bill. I'm no lawyer ~ those of you whom are, can ya help a brotha out with this one ~ but does this actually fall under the definition of Collusion? Yes, the league is single entity but this is just a bad precedent in my opinion.

[scott47a]

I can't wait to come back and read this thread later just to see all of the people angry at the MLS structure.

Good times.

[Dave]

Wow, the LEAGUE stopped this one? I understand how this is legal but I hope the MLS PR department is prepared for a hell lot of damage control.

[Joe]

Im a Fire supporter and I think that is terrible by the league. They should have told NJ that before they traded Thorton. Maybe they wouldnt have done it and Chivas would have given more for him seeing that they didnt have a keeper. NJRB got screwed in this deal because of the league.

[Allegre]

Really! It's much better to spend team money out of the country than to spend it here! What a farce! What does MLS think they would do with it???? Maybe use it for more player development. I think MLS afraid that USL will eventually compete with it and would like USL to remain the ugly sister, even if it hurts its own teams.

Pathetic reasoning.

[Kris]

Exactly the reason why the MLS is always going to be a second-rate league, even to American soccer fans.

And exactly the reason why I've slowly stopped paying attention to the league.

MLS is getting to be a BORING league :(

[Mikeype]

Here we go again with "Big Brother" (MLS). All teams must have the league approve everything that they do, MLS should not run the clubs, that's for the management of the team and its fans. You do not see any other soccer league behave in this fashion around the world.

I am beginning to believe that the USL leagues are more of a European league than MLS. That's sad.

[tfina]

When was the last time we were actually given a break from MLSFO? It seems like they go out of their way to mess with RBNY

[Steve]

This is good. MLS can't afford to have its clubs paying absorbitant fees because its clubs are desparate to unearth a plyer right before the transfer window.

I'm sure its a particularly sensitive subject in the NY offices in light of Montreal knocking TFC out of the CCL, Puerto Rico and Montreal starting more brightly than NE and Chivas and the runs of Charlestown and Seattle in the USOC.

The league needs to set itself apart from the USL and if that means controlling transfer fees so players (and agents) know you'd better come to MLS if you want to play in NA and buidl your career so be it.

[United fury]

Red Bull Salsbury,

Wiltord is well past his prime and would probably become another disappointing player in NY's history.(like Matteus)

[Dannyc58]

It won't be the futility of the Red Bulls that make me give up on the club someday. It will be the idiocy of the MLS front offices.

[mls hater]

but if it was the galaxy there would have been no problem

[Ossington Mental Youth]

Bit pathetic on the MLS' part, its redbulls money, they put the scouting into it and feel dude is worthy.

Dont understand how they could sign this guy with the transfer window closed tho

[quartz62]

Mickey Mousse
League
Soccer

lets us sign K. we have the money, keep your big brother noses out of this...

[smokarz]

This is ABSURD!!!

I am not aware of any leagues in any sports in the world that prevent clubs from signing players, WITHOUT a reason.

How are teams suppose to compete, or gain a competitive edege, if they're not allowed to sign the players they want.

MLS might as well put all players under a pool and randomly select 28 for each team.

[quartz62]

Mental Youth:
That's the international signing window, we can still sign from MLS/USL until Sept. 15

someone correct me if I'm wrong please.

[KingSnake]

Single entity blows.

[RK]

Maybe MLS doesn't want this to happen because they want a weaker USL tea in Atlanta for when MLS comes to town.

I can dream.

[KingSnake]

Do Red Bull need to file an expense report for a roll of toilet paper?

[Eric]

This is BS - for all they want to say about helping soccer in America, they are hurting a USL franchise that makes little money as it is.

For them not to get decent value for a player they signed, paid, and developed, is wrong. How would this be any different than buying a player from a low level Central America league.

If NYRB feels the market value for Kandji is 200k, they should be allowed to pay it.

[cuzco03]

What's RBNY's relationship with its parent RB Vienna? Could Vienna acquire Kandji then loan him to NY and settle finances internally?

Otherwise Atlanta got a good asset that they may still be able to sell outside of MLS.

[J]

If the guy had UK football experience, MLS would have been all over him

Mickey Mouse League

[Don Garber]

I'm sorry, Carlos. You've already used up your Northern allocation. You'll just have to walk around mungy for the next month ...

[Bob]

Petty, petty move by MLS. Heaven forbid that they actually do anything to help a USL club out. Atlanta is going to get $ for Kandji no matter what. Unfortunately a young player with talent won't be coming to MLS but instead will be sold to a league in another country.

The MLS/USL relationship or lack thereof is holding back soccer in this country.

[TCompton]

It seems like MLS is rather high on itself. USL is a different league, with different owners, different players, different salary restrictions, etc.

MLS just wants to be only league people follow, and that's pretty rediculous, especially with so many cities without an MLS team.

As if paying a $200K transfer fee means that MLS is somehow legitimizes the USL (and as if the USL needs to be legitimized)! MLS should focus on getting the best players to play in MLS.

[Scott C.]

you can sell a player for $10 million but then can't buy one for $200,000...what a joke...

[noname]

I don't see why MLS needs to micromanage the selection of particular players when they set the parameters for how much teams can spend through the allocation money and salary cap system. I know they own all the contracts but then why bother having personnel people with the different franchises?

[Aguinaga]

Bad precedent?? In terms of finances, this is a league that signs David Beckham for multiple millions yet allows entry level players to be paid below minimum wage at $12900 a year. A league that wants teams to fork over millions to build their own stadiums in order to acquire their own franchises (for which they're also charged millions), & yet balks when that same team that's already made such a grand investment is willing to go a bit further to enhance their level of play & pay a 200K transfer fee that they can afford while abiding by the fiscal constraints as set forth WITHIN THE LEAGUE'S OWN RULES! A fee the team recognizes is based simply on the rare talent of the USL player at hand. And to add insult to injury, a fee the team arranged to pay by selling a marketable team asset in order to make happen. MLS is punishing a team just for wanting to get better by investing in a player that could turn around and net a transfer fee multiple times that! Perhaps empathy for the other owners who may not want to spend that much on a transfer fee? Where was the league empathy when the Red Bulls got considerably weaker upon selling their most prized asset and consequently netting the league millions?! BAD F*#$@%$#ING PRECEDENT?!?! JESUS CHRIST. I have been a very dedicated fan since the league's birth, and right now, I HATE THIS LEAGUE.

[anotherbodymurdered]

what, no one's here trying to blame this on the Fire?

[Don Garber]

Because I feel like it.

[Adam]

F--k the single entity!

[BigWave]

Seattle should sign this kid before they become an MLS team.

[Frank the Frowner]

This league is an absolute joke and will always be second rate until this morons stop limiting teams. They can pocket 10Mill but can't spend 200k for the same god damn team? Words can't describe the stupidity in this.

[Jonathan]

In light of the CONCACAF CL results, the false emperor is being exposed slowly. I sure hope that more and more instances would chip at the smug and arrogant "top flight football" league of the US.

[Matt Johnston]

Bollocks. That is what MLS Front Office is--complete Bollocks.

Look, NY did this will allocation money which they had. The two sides, NY and Atlanta agreed on the fee, so there is no quibbling there. NY was willing to pay the money.

Now MLS says, no it is a bad precedent.

The bad precedent has already been set when the MLS changes the rules when ever they want for what ever reason they want. NY did everything by the book here and MLS just changed the rules.

It is not only unfair, but it is wrong. It is no wonder to me that the quality of USL has improve more dramatically than the MLS quality, because USL doesn't change the rules on the fly.

[Robert Green]

pathetic. this is why (and i say this as a season-ticket holder of two seats at the home depot for the galaxy--e.g. someone who spends a ton of money on this league) this league still sucks after all these years.

single entity is bullsh*t. i'm sorry ives doesn't get that, but the constant "but the NASL went under, waaah waaah waaah " crap has got to go. the past is the past. this league has a bunch of teams with their own stadia and revenue streams, with more coming all the time. let them sink or swim on their own competence. single table (keep the playoffs because americans love them and it doesn't hurt anyone), no more single entity. no more hamstringing ownership who wants to do the right thing, which is to put a top quality product in front of their fans based on their revenue potential and the deepness of ownership's pockets.

the single entity structure may have been good training wheels, but the baby is all growed up now and doesn't need them anymore. that the league essentially is mediocre (no depth, can't beat panamanian or trinidadian rivals!, low goal-scoring average) is obvious. if some team wants to spend money to bring top talent--good for them. if some other team wants to win using billy beane's philosophy--good for them.

the number of times this year i have had to apologize to friends whom i have brought to the HDC for the paucity of quality in the galaxy lineup beyond the big two is just embarrassing. and the team is making a ton of money. so let them f+cking spend it on a couple of central midfielders who aren't...execrable.

what is the point of spending beckham money if you can't surround him with good players? seriously?

[4now]

Ives,

Might you add a petitioning application to your website for when polls regarding MLS policy are this lopsided. It might make a difference and the SBI mafia might become an important voice.

Also, could you provide phone number to the MLS office so those of us interested in calling in and lodging our criticism can be counted?

Sincerely,
-4

[MasterShake]

F@##@%CK this is all Chicagos fault !!!!! ;)

[cuzco03]

MLS doesn't want to be shown-up by USL again after Tuesday's CONCACAF defeats contrasting to USL's Wednesday's CONCACAF win and draw. Imagine how embarassing it looks for MLS' vaunted talent scouting network to pay extra for talent it should have found for free. Now if Charleston wins at RFK next week . . . not that I want that but it's a ossibility.

[Jordan]

Wow. As a Columbus fan who went through the Pat Noonan circus (which eventually panned out for C-Bus) I think this is an absolute farce. This is so bogus. If NY wants to buy him, they should be able to. I really think MLS needs to get rid of single entity and just have a salary cap instead of this nonsense.

[Drew]

horrible decision by mls

[inkedAG]

If LA was set to pay for the dude...he'd be in a Galaxy uniform faster than you can say David Beckham!!

[Don Garber]

Give me a break. I've bent the rules for Red Bull as well ...

[John]

Several comments:

1. Sometimes the best deals are the ones you don't make. Red Bulls were very close to signing Augustin Delgado and Paulo Wanchope but when those two deals fell through, signed Juan Pablo Angel. How would we feel if FIFA had allowed the team to sign Delgado or Wanchope had said "yes"?

2. Color me skeptical about Kandji. He's athletic and he's torn up the USL. I think the primary reason Osorio is interested in him is that he wants someone with speed playing next to Angel. I'm not convinced that Kandji would tear up the league or even prove to be an upgrade over Doe.

3. I think there are two possible issues here on the league's part:
--the league tends to lowball players consistently. They did this to Wynalda (which is why he didn't sign with MLS at the end of his career) and a host of other players. So it's not specific to Red Bulls.
--the transfer fee is also a clever way of beating the cap (or potentially a cap violation). Here's why: don't players typically get to keep 20% of the transfer fee (I know the exact amount varies with each league and contract)? So that would be $40k before Kandji ever gets paid a dollar to step on the field. I don't begrudge the player any of the transfer amount but I wonder if cap issues could have been a consideration. For instance, I know that DC United used to tell players they were trying to sign that by playing for United, their salaries went up an automatic $40k because of the playoff bonus situation from the league (that wasn't counted in the cap) and then the league told Kevin Payne to stop making that argument.

[Mike]

Remember, this decision comes from the same group of people who thought that Lothar Matheus was a good buy. Fools, damned fools.

[Matt]

Okay, it's one thing that MLS has all these rules. Fine, I get that. But why on Earth would MLS step in when NY is making an acquisition WITHIN the framework of established rules?!

This flies in the face of MLS HQ's recent party line, saying they only "rubber stamp" transfer deals these days, and that these decisions lie with the clubs.

It's obviously not the reality. I am not a NY fan, but I sympathize, what a load of crap.

[Eugene]

OUTRAGE.

Why is it the league's business who NY wants to sign? How does the league dare to make player acquisition decisions for the Red Bulls and then claim they are creating conditions for parity between teams? How can the league justify this decision given the fact LA was unofficially given a 2nd DP slot without needing to trade for it, NE is sitting on the discovery rights of George Wellcome without any interest in acquiring him this year (despite interest from NY), Chicago claimed Lider Marmol on discovery and blocked NY but have not played him since.

The league needs to stop speaking out of both sides of it's mouth. Writing a new rule about setting precedents is not nearly fair. The Red Bulls are acting within the league's rules in acquiring new players -- the league has NO GROUNDS to stand on.

Gazidis needs to readdress the issue of competitive fairness if this verdict is going to stand.

Absolute outrage.

[mikeK]

If it were LA.... oi vey.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

Quartz-
Thanks, thought USL might be in the international window (even tho its in the US) thought this current window only applied to free agents and mls players.

[Kyle]

I'm a HUGE MLS fan, but even I am starting to get tired of MLS's cheapness. This is the 2nd time this week I have thought, "Maybe, Ill stop watching MLS."

[Commisioner Garber]

Although it may seem spiteful on the part of MLS, it is really another historic moment in the development of soccer in America.

If we send any money to the lower divisions it will delay the day that the fold up shop. Too many of these USL franchises are in cities that we want to expand in order to create a 40 team first division.

The average fan does not realize how important franchise fees are to our business model.

[LJ]

the supremely sad thing is, give this kid some guidance and mentoring, and he could be a special player for the MLS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo6ljUDLwKg
what f'n idiots.

he would have been an exciting player to watch.

[GeneralMSU3]

WOW!!! What a year for the MLSFO in regards to player movement. Conde, Marmol, McBride, Kandji, Seattle being able to sign their own players, Noonan, LA's extra DP's, etc... I'm sure I missed a bunch too.

I feel like Gazidis is just sitting on his office desk, indian-style, moving players around like they're little toy soldier pieces. "You go Chicago! You go to TFC! No wait!.... You go to San Jose! Now fight!!!!" All the while bright-eyed and laughing develishly.

Hmmm...here's a thought MLS...If you're worried about the little ole' USL sneaking up on you....How about going out and buying all their best players (Including Kandji). Yes I know this will mean raising the salary cap, hoh hum. But you know what...you actually might have the best league in this country after that! Just a thought.....

[Brando]

This is garbage. I encourage everyone to call MLS HQ and let them know how you feel.

[phats]

bush league

[Ives]

Your right Quartz62.

[CPTKevin]

borders on criminal (did any other team in MLS have a problem with this move?)

It also sends a bad message to potential USL players trying to break into the MLS.

[Joamiq]

Absolute. Utter. Complete. Bullshit.

[Matt]

Sounds like communism to me.

The ruling party thinks they know what is better for the whole than the actual people they serve.

What a farcical joke this league is. Too bad we care because it is an American league and we want it to be the best not some bullshit regime run league that it is now.

[Yossarian]

Another brilliant move by MLS

1) It furthers their shrewd policy of screwing with the NY team. It's been proven time and again that a small market like NY can't possibly support a team, so moves like this will just hasten their exit out of the league so a major market like Boise can get a team that will make some serious money for the league.

2) It also continues their excellent policy of putting a poor product on the field and preventing good young players from developing and signing with MLS teams. If MLS gets too good, they're going to wind up having multiple teams going deep into all these extra tournaments which is just a huge hassle.

3) It's a great service to the soccer watching public. With all the new opportunities out there to watch EPL and other foreign leagues, it's nice to see a league that has no desire to produce a watchable product. It really frees up a lot of my time now that I don't have to go to any MLS games or watch them on T.V.

Thanks MLS!!

[Jacob]

I get to see Kandji a little longer, like I wanted, but:

MLS screwed the pooch on this one. Proof that they are run no better than the USSF itself.

Can the single entity deal be settled in the new cba? If it can, it needs to be. All our other major sports (baseball aside) work as seperate entities with salary caps (even large as it is, the NFL cap is very stringent) and with great success. It's time for this to happen.

[JL]

Ya this really doesn't make sense. Is it the idea MLS is such a superior league to USL they shouldn't have to pay to get their players? Thats retarded if so. If you are going to be willing to sell up and coming players to Europe, but then only give a portion of this cash to the teams, you shouldn't be telling them no when a cheap, young option becomes available. Maybe the concern is there is a sell on clause? I dont get what MLS gains by taking this stand.

[Fumar]

It sounds like we all have some feedback for the league. We're the ones paying for the product on the field. We want the best available product. LET MLS KNOW we want the teams to make personnel decisions, NOT THE MLS!

feedback@mlsnet.com

[GeneralMSU3]

Imagine an EPL, La Liga, Serie A, or Bundesliga team were not able to sign players from the lower divisions within their respective country.

I wonder if this would be an issue if the $200,000 amount was never in the news.

So the issue here is that he is playing for Atlanta (a USL team). If he were playing in Belize or Nicaragua this would be a good spend???.....hmmmm....

[Chris]

WOW! these guys are a joke! i agree that $200,000 is a lot for a USL player, but if red bulls were willing to pay what's the problem? i freakin hate the guys running mls.

[JC]

The only thing the MLS has accomplished by blocking this move is shown that despite landing Beckham, and hyping itself to the world, the MLS still isn't confident about it's standing in the North American sports landscape. It's very obvious MLS FO is concerned the USL might compete with it, so it stupidly blocks a move that could help an MLS team. What's most amusing is that some really good talent has come from the USL or have they forgotten where Brian Ching, Maykel Galindo, and Dwayne De Rosario got their starts? Not to mention that a full USL team (Seattle) is basically getting promoted to the MLS next season. Pathetic action on MLS' part.

[MasterShake]

This is not just a problem for Red Bulls, this is a problem for everyone. Today Red Bulls tomorrow SJ or RSL...just not LA apparently.

[scott47a]

Man, I'm really enjoying this.

I think my favorite so far was "Single-entity blows."

Now that is a succinct and direct comment!

[BlonDie]

This is a joke , rules are bent every which way by MLS , not to mention the league has made more money of the redbulls/metrostars interms of transer fees from european clubs-Bradley-Altidore-Howard and that JP guy who tore up his knee! A joke plain and simple , tell Garber to pill his head out of the Galaxies asshole long enough to sse that usl has talent and that 200k is not alot for a player who might wind up in France or Germany and 1 day be worth 20 times that 200k , Garber is a FOOL!

[donny]

seemingly it takes red bull f-o-r-e-v-e-r to do anything - so this hurts even more that so much valuable time was wasted to get to this conclusion. this season i've lost quite a bit of respect for garber and company in the mls front office - they are as useless as our sporting director is!

[GeneralMSU3]

I'm so fired up about this topic. This is my 3rd time posting.

I just e-mailed this to MLS:

Oh boy! Quite a commotion you've caused with the Mac Kandji purchase or lack thereof.

Please let NYRB operate as they deem fit and sign players that they feel will benefit their club. If they made moves via tranfers and trades to acquire the necessary funds to spend on a player such as Atlanta's Kandji, please allow them to sign him.

In case you were unaware (tongue in cheek), teams and leagues around the world operate just like this. They buy young talent from their countries lower divisions to help bolster their squad. Then hopefully they can sell them on at a later date for a greater amount. This just makes sense.

Recent performances show that MLS is not ahead of USL nor many teams throughout CONCACAF in terms of quality of play. Don't you think it would make sense to acquire the best talent possible that is currently playing in this region of the world?

Not only is Kandji, possibly, one of those players, but he is absolutely an exciting player to watch. Dare I say he is "entertaining"? That is what this is all about, isn't it?

Now please allow NYRB to sign Kandji and move on to more pressing matters. Like how to go about finding and signing more Kandjis!

[JSquaredNY]

If I could, I'd punch Don Garber right about now...

I finally see why the MLS is considered second rate and a Mickey Mouse League.

Thanks Don, your board's decisions are always appreciated.

[BlonDie]

Let Him Play ! Let Him Play ! Is this league run by Aushwitz or Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) Garber in stronger words your an asshole who is missing the point!

[BlonDie]

We still have time someone head up a petition - Graber will tell us we can only spend 200k On Henry next year ! lol

[Chris]

I'm so sick of this league. I'm hating it more and more. Why is it the league has claimed over and over how New York is an essential franchise to the league, yet any chance they get, they screw us. Charter planes, Marmol, now Kandji. It's ridiculous. They bend over backwards for LA. They pulled strings even for Chicago to get McBride, but NY they just seem to not care about at all.

Ives, please write an article bashing this decision for ESPN. This needs to STOP!

[Graeme]

Just further proof that in order for this league to truly grow now with individual owners that the league needs to allow individual control as well.

[Michael F.]

MLS fromt office is absolutely ridiculous. RBNY can't buy a player they want with the money they have?
How can this be?
MLS just took in $10 million form RBNY!
Unbelievable...uh, I mean believable.

[BlonDie]

I agree this is an injustice to the fans !

[BlonDie]

IVES whats your opinion as a fan not a journalist?

[Chris]

Garber is turning into David Stern. I used to like him. Now I F'ing HATE him.

BOO THIS MAN!

[Thom]

USL- I think United States Soccer is in there somewhere.
Why block the sale? Why not keep the money in our overall domestic development system and leagues. I think this just really dumb on MLS's part & illegal in any other federations’ eyes to boot. It flies in the face of capitalism as do many aspects of the MLS- some understandable but many others not and this list “of not” seems to grow much faster as time goes by.

Ives- I have asked before and I will ask again- PLEASE do a piece on how these 2 organizations fit and function (or don't) together. I just don't understand it and no one in our small soccer world seems to have an interest in doing so.
If you do I promise-

A. to buy something from everyone of your sponsors
B. pledge my lifelong loyalty to your site
C. squeeze more cash somehow out of ESPN for you and the family.

[Kris]

There's a reason The United States of America set it up so states can govern themselves and the federal government doesn't have that much micromanaging say in things. The MLS is the opposite: The teams (as states) have no power, and the league (the federal government) run about 99% of everything.

BORING.

[Royce]

Teams should be allowed to make their own decisions as long as they abide by the current rules of the league. They did everthing the right way. Give the teams their freedom.

[mpatt75]

COMMUNISM

[royce]

how can the MLS heads even think about putting another team in the NYC area when this one has so pityful for all of it's existence, and when we finally have a coach who has a very good futbol mind they go ahead and tie the hands, why play by the rules, it doesn't get you anywhere with MLS...

[Pico]

Ives,

could not agree with you more. All the good feeling of late for the NYRB has soured, and unfortunately not because the team's doing but because a bunch of inept people in control of the league.

The poster Matt Johnston above is right. It is a pity this has happened.

[Haig]

What happened to all those iceholes who claim that the league favors NY?

[kpugs]

This league is a complete joke, and nothing less. Maybe when this FIRST EFFING HAPPENED MLS SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING SO WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY GET RID OF A PLAYER TO FREE UP THE CASH.

[IHateDC]

If this is a new "rule," then MLS is to blame. If RBNY knew/should have known about this in advance, then they are to blame. RBNY has ways of skirting this rule (hint: Red Bull energy drink buys advertising at the Atlanta stadium. $200,000 worth).

[Fumar]

My e-mail to the MLS. I suggest you all do the same. Only with a large outcry from MLS supporters will things like this change.

To:
feedback@mlsnet.com

Commissioner Garber:

The MLS has had the scepter of the NASL hanging over its head since the leagues inception. This is why the single-entity ownership structure was created, to hold down costs and allow the MLS to have final say of player movement. My concern is that this same concern for the viability of the league has caused the MLS to pass up opportunities to better the quality of play.

The recent refusal to allow the New York Red Bulls to sign USL player, Macoumba Kandji, for $200k is part and parcel of the trade off the MLS has made time and time again. The MLS has stepped on the toes of NYRB by overruling their judgement as to the worth of a player. I can understand blocking a transfer of a large sum as this would represent a large investment. But to block a transfer fee this small is simply not in the best interest of the league. As MLS' top talent continues to be sold on to larger European teams those same transfer fees must be used to replenish the talent on the field. By blocking a team such as NYRB from using their allocation money on a young talent they believe is worth the money, the MLS has foolishly bet that top talent will simply filter into the league for free transfers. Simultaneously, the league has withheld money from the ULS, which has been and continues to be a breeding ground for future MLS talent.

By not allowing clubs to pay modest sums for USL talent, the league has shown that it has little concern for the talent level in the league (basically a slap in the face to paying customers such as myself) while cutting off possible investments into the development of talent in lower leagues. This is not only watering down the product on the field currently, but also watering down possible talent of the future. Both the short-term and long-term ramification of this decision are bad for the league.

Please allow MLS teams to invest in young talent from lower leagues in much the same way other football league around the world bring up talent from their lower leagues. For the good of the present and future of the league.

Sincerely,
A concerned MLS fan

[Kartik]

As always some outstanding reporting by Ives.

The Hubris in MLS HQ is a subject I've been exploring on my blog since the Superliga debacle. This incident however even surprises someone like me who tends to think the worst possible of Gazidis, et al in player matters. However, I must state I support MLS and hope they shape up rather than permanently lose a generation of football fans in this nation.

The fact is back in the day USL-1 (The A-League) and MLS used to have a working partnership. Now they compete. USL is obviously an inferior league but its not as wide a gap as typically you have between first and second divisions. MLS seems determined to kill USL, while at the same time not allowing its franchises to grow. I've actually spoken off the record to a few players who have been in both leagues and while they acknowledge MLS is the top league they prefer playing in USL and actually signing with a team and not being subject to the constant rearranging of the deck chairs that occurs in MLS.

What MLS needs to do is learn from USL's success in certain markets and also understand why USL sides tend to perform well relative to their talent level in knock out competitions like the Open Cup and now the CONCACAF CL. USL-1 sides typically get players that are MLS rejects not because they weren't good enough to play but because they fell in the salary range of 30k-50k where cap space becomes tight. Many USL-1 players are actually better than the low end MLS players.

[nathan3e]

Here we have MLS officials distilling to its essence why so many people regard the league as a complete joke. In a way it is rather nice of them.

[Tom O]

Who do they think they are LA???

Wait, I thought NY could do whatever they needed.

Actually, this is Bullstuff. They should be able to reinvest what they (NY and MLS) got from the sale of Jozy!