MAJOR League Soccer and the Major League Soccer Players Union have staved off the threat of an imminent lockout by agreeing to extend their deadline for completing negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.
The two sides have been deadlocked over the content of a new CBA to replace the original five-year agreement which is due to expire on Sunday. That raised the prospect of a lockout on Monday with clubs keeping the players from attending pre-season training, which started this week ahead of the new campaign at the end of March.
The main point of disagreement concerns players' freedom of movement, with MLS operating its league as a single entity and holding the contracts of players rather than the individual teams.
The MLSPU also wants the league to fall in line with the majority of other leagues under the FIFA umbrella by guaranteeing contracts.
The lack of progress in the talks has led to uncertainty over the coming season, due to begin on March 25, when the Seattle Sounders host MLS' 16th and newest team, the Philadelphia Union, for its inaugural match in the league.
Seattle's highest-paid player, former Arsenal star Freddie Ljungberg, threatened to join a European club rather than return to MLS if an agreement could not be reached and a lockout occurred, but having not reported to his club's training camp on Monday he agreed on Tuesday to return on February 1 and said he had been told a lockout would not take place.
That appears to be accurate information, at least in the short term, as the two parties tonight at least agreed to continue to negotiate until February 12.
"While we still have areas of disagreement, the talks have been constructive and both parties believe it makes sense to continue to work hard to reach agreement," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said.
"This extension provides both MLS and the players the opportunity to continue our discussions while clubs are in training camps preparing for the 2010 MLS season."
Players Union executive director Bob Foose confirmed the deadline extension, adding: "Both the Players Union and MLS have concluded that a new agreement will not be reached by February 1, but we have agreed to continue to talk and we will be meeting over the next two weeks to determine if a new agreement can be reached.
"In the meantime, MLS Players are reporting to training camp, and preparations for the 2010 season will continue."
The main point of disagreement concerns players' freedom of movement, with MLS operating its league as a single entity and holding the contracts of players rather than the individual teams.
The MLSPU also wants the league to fall in line with the majority of other leagues under the FIFA umbrella by guaranteeing contracts.
The lack of progress in the talks has led to uncertainty over the coming season, due to begin on March 25, when the Seattle Sounders host MLS' 16th and newest team, the Philadelphia Union, for its inaugural match in the league.
Seattle's highest-paid player, former Arsenal star Freddie Ljungberg, threatened to join a European club rather than return to MLS if an agreement could not be reached and a lockout occurred, but having not reported to his club's training camp on Monday he agreed on Tuesday to return on February 1 and said he had been told a lockout would not take place.
That appears to be accurate information, at least in the short term, as the two parties tonight at least agreed to continue to negotiate until February 12.
"While we still have areas of disagreement, the talks have been constructive and both parties believe it makes sense to continue to work hard to reach agreement," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said.
"This extension provides both MLS and the players the opportunity to continue our discussions while clubs are in training camps preparing for the 2010 MLS season."
Players Union executive director Bob Foose confirmed the deadline extension, adding: "Both the Players Union and MLS have concluded that a new agreement will not be reached by February 1, but we have agreed to continue to talk and we will be meeting over the next two weeks to determine if a new agreement can be reached.
"In the meantime, MLS Players are reporting to training camp, and preparations for the 2010 season will continue."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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