Latest news with #MLSPlayersAssociation
Al Jazeera
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
Club World Cup ‘cash grab': What's the MLS vs players pay dispute about?
With the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 about to get under way on Saturday, the football league in the host nation United States (US) finds itself at odds with players from its three participating clubs over monetary compensation from the tournament. Three Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs – Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders and Los Angeles FC – are among the 32 teams that have qualified for the tournament running from June 14 to July 13 across 11 venues in the US. Players from the three clubs, represented by the MLS Players Association (MLSA), have protested over the amount of compensation they are promised from the tournament by the MLS. Here's a breakdown of the ongoing tussle between the MLS and its players: The players are demanding an increased share of the tournament prize money in addition to the participation fee they are set to receive. The players' association has accused the MLS of refusing to engage in a negotiation so far, while the league has said it has offered the clubs an 'enhanced structure' for the players. On June 1, players of Seattle Sounders FC brought attention to the issue by wearing shirts that read 'Club World Cup Ca$h Grab' during their warm-up session before their match against Minnesota United FC. A number of players from the three clubs also posted on social media with the hashtag #FairShareNow, causing fans to take notice and engage in social media MLS team will earn a participation fee of $9.55m, but can win additional prize money based on its performance. Each win or draw during the tournament will also bring in additional prize money, which can increase further should the club advance to the next stages. Since LAFC beat Club America to qualify for the tournament in a playoff game, they won an additional $250,000 in prize money. According to the existing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the MLS and MLSPA, the players are eligible to receive 50 percent of the prize money in undefined tournaments such as the Club World Cup. The MLS, on Sunday, said it has proposed an enhanced structure for the Club World Cup 'to reward both participation and competitive achievement in the tournament.' According to the MLS, this is what's on offer in the revised proposal: 'In addition to the guaranteed $1m per team for qualifying, 20 percent of all prize money earned from the group stage onward would be allocated to players. If an MLS club wins the Club World Cup, its players could collectively receive more than $24m in performance bonuses.'They seek a better deal than the one put forward by the MLS in its latest proposal, and for the league to engage with its players in a negotiation. The players' association says the latest proposal offered by MLS does not include any additional participation bonuses for the players and offered 'below-standard' back-end compensation. The MLSPA has also accused the league of asking for unrelated concessions to the CBA. As things stand, the CBA includes a provision that caps the amount of prize money that can go to players at $1m. The MLSPA believes the players are entitled to a bigger share of the funds. '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 in a statement on Sunday. It further added that the proposed 20 percent share of the compensation amount is 'below international standard'. 'Although not surprised, the players and the MLSPA are deeply disappointed by this message,' the MLSPA side has issued any further statements, but players have continued posting on social media with the #FairShareNow hashtag. Reports in US media said the talks between the two sides were ongoing. The league's last statement said that MLS owners believe that performance-based incentives are appropriate given the expanded format and increased prize pool for the tournament. 'The League values the continued dedication and commitment of its players and looks forward to supporting them as they represent their clubs – and Major League Soccer – on the global stage this summer,' it added. Should both sides remain at loggerheads, it is unlikely that the players will refuse to take the field for their games in a tournament hosted in their clubs' home country. If they do, the players risk being fined and reprimanded by the league in accordance with its rules. It is unlikely to impact the tournament directly unless the players refuse to take the field for their clubs. However, the controversy has added what would be considered unwelcome attention to the MLS's pay structure and the Club World Cup, a tournament that has already faced plenty of criticism from football players and officials. It remains unclear how other leagues and teams are compensating their players for their participation in the Club World Cup. The breakdown and distribution of the prize money and participation fee vary across leagues.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MLS proposes new Club World Cup prize money payout deemed ‘retaliatory' by players' union
Cristian Roldan #7 of the Seattle Sounders walks onto the field for warm ups before the game against the Minnesota United FC at Lumen Field on June 01, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. Cristian Roldan #7 of the Seattle Sounders walks onto the field for warm ups before the game against the Minnesota United FC at Lumen Field on June 01, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. Photograph:Major League Soccer has submitted a new proposal to its players concerning how bonuses for the Club World Cup will be paid out to the players on clubs participating in the tournament, according to a source familiar with negotiations between the parties who spoke to the Guardian and other outlets on the condition of anonymity to protect their relationships within the game. The MLS Players' Association, the union representing MLS players, later confirmed they had received a proposal. According to the source, the league's offer would see players earn 20% of a team's performance-based prize money at each stage of the tournament with no agreed-upon cap on maximum payout. This means each group of MLS players competing in the tournament would collectively receive $200,000 for a group stage win (from a total prize of $1m), $400,000 for a group stage win (from a total prize of $2m per team, per win), $1.5m for making the Round of 16 (from a total prize of $7.5m) and so on. Advertisement The players' current bonus structure, outlined in the MLSPA's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the league, allows MLS players to receive half of any prize or participation money awarded to a team participating in an outside tournament, but with a hard cap of $1m. With the Club World Cup's $9.5m participation prize given to MLS teams, players had already maxed out their maximum payout and would have not been entitled to any more money for progress in the tournament. Related: Cristiano Ronaldo will not play at Club World Cup despite 'plenty of invitations' Under the proposed terms, in the unlikely event an MLS team wins the Club World Cup, players on that team would be entitled to split a prize pool that would total up to $23.9m. In their own statement, the MLSPA confirmed that the proposal had been delivered but said that the 20% payout is 'below the international standard,' and also said that the league has attempted to 'strong-arm' the players into CBA waivers that do not regard the Club World Cup. Advertisement The prize money structure was the subject of protest by the Seattle Sounders last weekend, with the squad wearing T-shirts in the warmup reading 'Club World Cup Cash Grab.' The MLSPA later said in a statement that the league had 'failed to bring forward a reasonable proposal.' The source said that MLS had originally planned to propose the 20% arrangement on the following Monday, but then elected to delay delivering the proposal until Friday. The Club World Cup kicks off on 16 June in cities across the United States. The Seattle Sounders, Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC are the three MLS clubs participating in the tournament.
CNA
02-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Seattle players call for 'fair share' of Club World Cup prize money
Seattle Sounders players called for a bigger slice of the prize money for competing at the Club World Cup this month by wearing T-shirts emblazoned with "Cash Grab" and "Fair Share Now" ahead of a Major League Soccer match on Sunday. Seattle are set to earn at least $9.55 million for competing at the June 14 to July 13 tournament in the U.S., where the total prize money runs to $1 billion, but under the MLS collective bargaining agreement (CBA) the players' share is capped at $1 million per club. Seattle are one of three MLS teams that will compete in the expanded 32-team Club World Cup. Teams from North America are guaranteed almost $10 million just for participating and can earn more depending on their results. MLS did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment after Seattle players warmed up in T-shirts with the phrases "Club World Cup Ca$h Grab" and "Fair Share Now" written on them ahead of their 2-3 home defeat by Minnesota United. The MLS Players Association said in a statement on Sunday that players had "privately and respectfully invited the league to discuss bonus terms, yet MLS has failed to bring forward a reasonable proposal". It added that the league was "clinging to an out-of-date CBA provision and ignoring longstanding international standards on what players typically receive from FIFA prize money in global competitions. "It is the players who make the game possible. It is the players who are lifting MLS up on the global stage. They expect to be treated fairly and with respect." Seattle are in Group B at the Club World Cup along with Brazil's Botafogo, UEFA Champions League winners Paris St Germain and LaLiga's Atletico Madrid. They face Botafogo in their opening game on June 15.
Reuters
02-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Seattle players call for 'fair share' of Club World Cup prize money
June 2 (Reuters) - Seattle Sounders players called for a bigger slice of the prize money for competing at the Club World Cup this month by wearing T-shirts emblazoned with "Cash Grab" and "Fair Share Now" ahead of a Major League Soccer match on Sunday. Seattle are set to earn at least $9.55 million for competing at the June 14 to July 13 tournament in the U.S., where the total prize money runs to $1 billion, but under the MLS collective bargaining agreement (CBA) the players' share is capped at $1 million per club. Seattle are one of three MLS teams that will compete in the expanded 32-team Club World Cup. Teams from North America are guaranteed almost $10 million just for participating and can earn more depending on their results. MLS did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment after Seattle players warmed up in T-shirts with the phrases "Club World Cup Ca$h Grab" and "Fair Share Now" written on them ahead of their 2-3 home defeat by Minnesota United. The MLS Players Association said in a statement on Sunday that players had "privately and respectfully invited the league to discuss bonus terms, yet MLS has failed to bring forward a reasonable proposal". It added that the league was "clinging to an out-of-date CBA provision and ignoring longstanding international standards on what players typically receive from FIFA prize money in global competitions. "It is the players who make the game possible. It is the players who are lifting MLS up on the global stage. They expect to be treated fairly and with respect." Seattle are in Group B at the Club World Cup along with Brazil's Botafogo, UEFA Champions League winners Paris St Germain and LaLiga's Atletico Madrid. They face Botafogo in their opening game on June 15.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Seattle Sounders protest Club World Cup bonus structure with MLSPA support
The Sounders players posed with their protest shirts before kickoff v Minnesota United on Sunday. The Sounders players posed with their protest shirts before kickoff v Minnesota United on Sunday. Photograph: Nick Wagner/AP The Seattle Sounders wore shirts in the warm-up for the team's game against Minnesota United on Sunday reading 'Club World Ca$h Grab,' in protest over the manner in which bonuses from participating in the Club World Cup are being distributed. Afterwards, the MLS Players Association released a statement expressing solidarity with the Sounders players who, according to the statement 'demanded a fair share of Fifa Club World Cup prize money.' Advertisement 'Fifa's new tournament piles on to players' ever-increasing workload without regard to their physical well-being,' the statement reads, before pointing out that Fifa will pay MLS teams large amounts (about $9.5m) to participate in the tournament. 'Despite this windfall, the league has refused to allocate a fair percentage of those funds to the players themselves.' Related: LAFC stun Club América in extra time to qualify for Club World Cup In addition to the $9.5m for participating in the tournament, clubs earn more based on performance in the games, drawing from a Fifa prize pool of around $475m. However, the current collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players stipulates that players can only earn 50% of bonuses from outside tournament, capped at $1m for the entire team. In effect, that makes for an initial 90/10 split of prize money, with the ratio potentially getting worse if MLS teams advance in the competition. Advertisement The MLSPA said in its statement that the players have sought to meet with MLS to make changes to the arrangement, but that the league has 'failed to bring forward a reasonable proposal.' Fifa itself does not have any rules governing how teams distribute prize money between front office, players, and associated parties. The Club World Cup will feature three MLS teams: Inter Miami, who were nominated to the field by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, the Sounders and now Los Angeles FC, who qualified via a one-game playoff.
