June 10 – Last week’s reported agreement between Major League Soccer (MLS) and the MLS Players Association (MLSPA) regarding FIFA Club World Cup compensation has collapsed, with the sides failing to reach terms on a revised section of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The breakdown comes just eight days after Seattle Sounders players displayed their frustration wearing shirts reading “Club World Cash Grab” and “Fair Share Now” during a pre-game warm-up – actions that prompted the MLSPA to issue a supportive statement.
Under the original CBA, players were entitled to 50% of revenue from external tournaments, capped at $1 million total. However, according to an ESPN source familiar with negotiations, MLS proposed a new structure giving players on the three participating teams 20% of performance-based payments tied to wins, draws, and tournament advancement.
The proposal would guarantee competing MLS teams $1 million plus additional performance-related bonuses. But after reviewing the offer, the MLSPA demanded a larger percentage and has yet to formally respond to the league’s proposal.
In a statement, the MLSPA called MLS’s actions “retaliatory” and unsatisfactory.
“The timing, substance, and retaliatory nature of the proposal sends a clear message: MLS does not respect or value players’ efforts with regard to this tournament,” the MLSPA said.
“MLS’s refusal to negotiate in good faith has created a major distraction for players who should be focusing on preparing for a major international competition. However, players will not be silenced by threats from MLS.”
The union later criticised MLS for introducing “back-end compensation of 20%, an amount that remains below the international standard” while not adding “a single dollar for players from the $28,650,000 windfall that MLS will be paid by FIFA.” According to the MLSPA, “the players’ share of that amount remains at barely 10%.”
With the tournament starting Saturday, both sides need to reach an agreement quickly or face another distraction in what’s rapidly becoming a tournament plagued by off-field issues.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1749614633labto1749614633ofdlr1749614633owedi1749614633sni@r1749614633etsbe1749614633w.kci1749614633n1749614633