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Tag Archives: USSF

Saputo Speaks Out

Following the recent performances of the team, the Montreal Impact president Joey Saputo made the following statement:

“Following the recent performances of the team, I wish to reiterate that Nick De Santis, Marc Dos Santos and the other members of the technical staff continue to have my vote of confidence and they will stay in their current functions. They have proved their skills in the last few years and we will continue to build the futureof this club with them. The players, veterans as well as newcomers, are the only people responsible for the position of the team in the standings. They have not lived up to expectations so far this season. They have to look at themselves in the mirror and ask if they could have done more. Certain players have yet to convince us that they should be part of this club in Major League Soccer in 2012; as well as in 2011, as we will focus on our MLS preparation. With seven matches to play this season, making the playoffs is still possible, but to do so the players on this team will have to react and find solutions. I cannot accept the results thus far, as the standards set by the Montreal Impact are higher than simply just making the
playoffs.”

U.S. Soccer Meets President Mandela

President Bill Clinton and other board members of the USA Bid Committee to bring the FIFA World Cup to the U.S. in 2018 or 2022 met Thursday in Johannesburg with Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa, host of this year’s 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Photo Credit: Adam Jacobs, ISIphotos.com

Photo Credit: Adam Jacobs, ISIphotos.com

With Former President Mandela, from left, is Sunil Gulati, president of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and chairman of the USA Bid Committee; President Clinton, honorary chairman of the USA Bid Committee; Don Garber, commissioner of Major League Soccer; Carlos Cordeiro, vice chairman of the USA Bid Committee; and Dan Flynn, USSF CEO and secretary general.

President Clinton later spoke at the Nelson Mandela Foundation to pay tribute to Mandela’s life and legacy. President Clinton will rejoin the U.S. team on Saturday in Rustenburg for its Round of 16 match vs. Ghana. For more information on the U.S. bid, please visit gousabid.com.

Cleveland City Stars Update

Multiple sources suggest that the sale of the City Stars will be official sometime next week.  We were told that it is “now in the hands of the lawyers” and should be wrapped up soon.

Officials with the United Soccer Leagues declined to make specific comments on the matter, but did say an important update on the City Stars would be made available next week.  Past comments from the club suggest the franchise will remain in the USL in some capacity.  The City Stars have some difficult decisions to make regarding the choice of leagues, especially with the recent defection of the Rochester Rhinos. 

The USL/TOA/NASL saga needs to be resolved quickly and without further incident.  Many people are concerned about the long-term effects of the situation and what it could mean for the future of the game here in North America.  Here are two scenarios that are being discussed:

1.  MLS (1st Division), NASL (2nd Division), USL-2 (3rd Division), followed by PDL and Super Y-League     

2.  MLS (1st Division), NASL (2nd Division), USL-Pro (2nd Division), followed by PDL and Super Y-League

Note: USL-Pro would be a combination of current USL-1 and USL-2 clubs. 

Obviously the USSF wields the final authority on the matter.  Would they (or could they) allow two 2nd Division leagues to coexist simultaneously? Can the USL gather enough expansion teams to fill USL-1 with “8-12 teams” as they mentioned earlier? Would the USL be willing to refocus their energy on PDL and Super Y-League clubs?