MLS Playoffs 2016: Conference Finals Round 2, 27 and 30 Nov.

The CPL is happening. They've hired their first employee and confirmed Hamilton, Ont as a club. The league goes to the BoG at the CSA for a vote in December.

They are going very slowly to make sure they get things right.

 

Until the first kick-off, I refuse to not qualify it as "If". Too many things can and have happened to sidetrack new leagues.

 

Fair enough.

 

Same, but fingers crossed.

 

44 yards... 132 feet... @torontofc @impactmontreal @MLS "measure twice, paint once". pic.twitter.com/B0HEvHeJhK

— BMO Field Grounds Team (@BMOGrounds) November 30, 2016

 

I think the real question here is if any one of the three perfect brackets left in the league challenge also posts here; two of them have Toronto going the final, the other has Montreal which would make him/her the winner if they advance.

 

So far, the CSA/CPL has not been interested in doing this. As with anything, that may change at some point, but they want to be more of a division 1.5 than a 2 or 3.

 

Although Bill Manning, TFC President, has been pretty adamant about wanting TFC involved with the CPL. In what capacity would that be in? Who knows.

 

Going forward, any Canadian player that is an MLS "Homegrown" player will count as a domestic player throughout MLS. #CanMNT

— Daniel Squizzato ⭐️🇺🇦 (@DanielSquizzato) November 30, 2016

 

Here are all the details that the Canada Soccer, US Soccer, and MLS announced.

http://www.canadasoccer.com/mls-ann...ccer-on-youth-development-initiatives-p160185

 

Would the reserve teams in CPL be out of line with that, though? That's three teams in Canada's biggest cities that theyblikely wouldn't have otherwise.. obviously the MLS teams would need to do more than they are now with regards to attendance, but I think their presence would be positive overall.

 

Okay... needlessly complicated. Seems peak MLS.

So the rule change is that anyone in a MLS academy, or Canadian Approved Youth Club, prior to turning 16 now qualify as domestic for US and Canadian MLS clubs and MLS's USL clubs.

 

To call the new MLS/Canada Soccer initiative a half-measure would be an insult to half-measures.

— Steven Sandor (@stevensandor) November 30, 2016

 

So, without knowing the details or looking too much into this, isn't this basically just an extortion scheme to get Canadian players in MLS academies?

 

Although, the list of Canadians that count as domestics in the US will probably grow as CSA labels more youth clubs as CAYC...

 

Yes. "Better join us right now, you turn 16 soon"

 

Everyone is curious to see which clubs fit this category. There will be lots of fighting about this.

 

What I wonder is can a Canadian kid go into an MLS Academy for a few years prior to age 16, but then take an NCAA scholarship, and still be considered a domestic upon graduation? If so, doesn't this really levels the playing field for Canadians in terms of MLS opportunities

 

If I'm reading it right, not just Canadians qualify though. The rule applies to anyone that is in an MLS academy or CAYC when they turn 16 would qualify. So... A Honduran that was in DCU's academy prior to being 16 would now qualify as a US and Canadian domestic.

 

As long as their first pro contract is with MLS or MLS affiliate in USL, yes?

 

Commish Garber seems a little put off by journalists asking why not open up this rule change to all Canadian players.

— John Molinaro (@JohnMolinaro) November 30, 2016

 

That's how they are able to get around possible challenges on US discrimination laws. It's open to anyone who is here (or in Canada) without regard to citizenship status.

 

Hmm, could the discussion of the new rules be moved to its own thread? Seems appropriate?

 

The answer is it would be discriminatory under US law, no? Seems like a pretty easy answer to have handy...