The North American Soccer League (NASL) has been embroiled in a legal battle with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and Major League Soccer (MLS) over alleged antitrust violations. The NASL, which operated from 2011 to 2017, lost its Division 2 designation from the USSF in 2017, leading to the filing of the antitrust lawsuit. The lawsuit claims that the USSF’s Division structure favors MLS and suppresses competition from the NASL.
The NASL’s complaint alleges that the USSF’s Professional League Standards (PLS) are arbitrarily applied to benefit MLS and the United Soccer League (USL) while stifling competition from the NASL. The NASL was granted provisional Division 2 status for the 2017 season but was later denied full Division 2 sanctioning due to an inability to field enough teams, while MLS remains the only officially sanctioned Division 1 league.
Both the NASL and the USSF/MLS filed motions for summary judgement in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Judge Brian M. Cogan dismissed the NASL’s motion due to the presence of unresolved factual questions, necessitating a trial. However, he granted one of the motions from the USSF/MLS, which challenged the assertion that the PLS structure itself violated antitrust laws. The second motion from the USSF/MLS, questioning whether they used the PLS to harm the NASL, was denied due to conflicting evidence.
The lawsuit represents a significant legal battle within the U.S. soccer landscape, potentially impacting the regulatory structure of professional soccer leagues. The outcome of the trial will be crucial in determining whether the USSF’s Division structure unfairly favors certain leagues while hindering competition from others. The NASL’s determination to challenge the status quo highlights underlying tensions and disputes in the American soccer ecosystem.
As the NASL’s antitrust lawsuit against the USSF and MLS moves forward to trial, the soccer community awaits a resolution that could have far-reaching consequences. Whether the USSF’s Division structure violates antitrust laws and unfairly benefits certain leagues will be a central question during the legal proceedings. The outcome of the trial could reshape the landscape of professional soccer in the U.S. and impact the relationships between different leagues and governing bodies. The legal battle reflects broader issues of competition, regulation, and power dynamics within the American soccer industry.