Major League Soccer appears one step closer to returning.
The MLS Players Association approved the most recent proposal that would get its players to Orlando, Fla., at the end of June for a tournament, per a report in The Athletic. A spokesperson for the MLSPA declined to comment.
The newest plan has teams staying in Orlando for a maximum of six weeks, as opposed to the original plan that called for an eight- to 10-week stay at ESPN’s sports complex. One of the sticking points of the original plan was how much time players would stay in Orlando.
Several players across the league — including Real Salt Lake’s Nick Besler, Justin Meram, Giuseppe Rossi and Nedum Onuoha — had expressed doubts and even opposition to the proposal. The union’s approval of the latest plan now goes back to the league’s owners for either approval or a counter.
Teams would arrive in Orlando on June 24, train for two weeks, then play a three-game group stage before knockout rounds. Teams that don’t get past the group stage would fly back to their home markets.
As the league and union are negotiating a return to play, they are also ironing out a possible pay cut for its players and changes to the collective bargaining agreement agreed to in February, but not yet ratified, per The Athletic. Players don’t want to play in the Orlando tournament until all elements — the tournament, the CBA and the pay cut — are ironed out.
The MLSPA recently sent a proposal to the league that would offer $100 million of financial relief to the league, including reductions in bonuses and salary deferrals. MLS came back with an offer of a 10% salary cut to players, the first draft of a force majeure clause, and a one-year deferral of revenue sharing, per ESPN.
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