In todays ESTO (Mexicos leading footy newspaper) they had an article on the upcomming FMF meeting and some of the subjects that they will discuss. Amongst them was having official games MFL/MLS that will count in the league standings. The second one is that players from the U.S and Mexico wont count as foreigners if the MFL/MLS http://www.esto.com.mx/esto/021105/futbol/1futbol.asp
I wonder if this contradicts FIFA's law that leagues cant be combined between countries, and if so, what can FIFA do about it?
Wow... What is you feeling on that VS? I don't like the official games... I would like them to play and for the games to matter, but more in a FMF/MLS Champions league. Two domestic leagues should not count games against non-domestic teams. As for the players...one could compare NAFTA and the EU, although we don't have the ability to cross borders and no universal currency, but I would think it would benefit MFL more than MLS right now. Not becuase we have better players, but because we have cheaper players. MFL could buy more of our players than we could theirs for monetary reasons. Just my .02.....tkae it with a grain of salt.
Just because MLS players dont make much, doesnt mean they are cheap transfers. MLS owners are loaded, they could field the top players in the world with the money they have.
Sure, hypothetically theycould by anyone...but realistically they have a salary cap and while some people are made exceptions the vast majority fall into that payscale. The MFL has a much higher payroll and thus could pay players much more....transfer fees aside.
I dont like the inter-League points. I know there was a thread about this earlier and i think this is something the MLS wants since they only have 10 teams. I dont think the MFL clubs would go for this since the Clubs that play Copa Libertadores and TFC CC have a very tight schedule. I like the players passport idea. I dont think this would benefit either league as much as the players which would now have more options to choose from. Since the MFL Clubs dont have salary Caps they can get any player they want and could easily take away many of the U.S top players. I dont think this would happen as it could hurt the MLS. Im thinking many Clubs would be trading players. There is allready a Morelia/Fire partnership.
I'm not sure why, but I have less of a problem with official MFL/MLS interleague play than random non-MLS team games counting in league standings. Maybe because it would be a longer term agreement and games would count in MLF as well. The players back and forth doesn't concern me either. Both ideas could put more butts in the seats even if they don't all show up to cheer for an MLS team - the almighty dollar is not loyal and would go to MLS for home games. I may be looking at this to superficially (and I don't read Spanish so God knows what the article says) but this is pretty radical and it just might work. I kind of like it. But, I also like the way things are now, wishing only for more fans and better tv ratings. This idea could help.
Perhaps this would lead to a separate competition between MLS and MFL clubs. A NAFTA Cup anyone? Perhaps we could find a way to include Canadian clubs if their league gets off the ground. Sachin
Wow. Stunning. Intriguing. Disturbing. MLS Cup was only a couple of weeks ago and the Hot Stove League is in mid-season form.
I'm surprised more people aren't responding yet, as this is absolute bombshell stuff. Do I love it? No. That said, having games count in both MLS and MFL would be, by far, the lesser of two evils, compared to having matches against Real, Man U and Rotor Volgograd count in MLS standing. But would that mean we'd have to reconfigure our schedule to their two-season setup? As VS said, the idea of players being able to move freely is much more likely to help MFL than MLS. Even if the US is where the money potentially is, right now Mexico is where the money gets paid. I suppose that MFL wouldn't siphon off the Donovans, Mathises and Beasleys as much as they would the Ruizes and Garcias, as soon as they've proven themselves here. Though that's just a not-so-carefully thought out hypothesis. Let's see where they go with this one. There may be the seed of a decent idea in here (maaaaaaaybe the free movement of players through both leagues), but I'm not too keen on so much damn tinkering.
Confused Unless I'm reading that first post wrong, it seems to me that a Mexican soccer newspaper says one of the things they will discuss is this possibility. That's a bombshell? Babelfish translation of that part of the article: Judges? Not a bombshell. Not yet.
Originally posted by Michael K. I'm surprised more people aren't responding yet, as this is absolute bombshell stuff. You have to wait two weeks to a month untill the American Media reports It I suppose that MFL wouldn't siphon off the Donovans, Mathises and Beasleys as much as they would the Ruizes and Garcias, as soon as they've proven themselves here. Foreign players will still count as foreign players. Only Mexican and American players will be able to move around freely..
I kinda like it, could add to the great US Mexico rivalry, could increase attendence and tv dollars. I am guessing this would also be very attractive to sponsors who would get exposure in both the American and Mexican market. You would have to put in place controls to make sure the competition is fair(make sure some teams don't get all the crappy mexican teams or all the good ones), and for this to really work the games need to count in both leagues...like interleague play in baseball.
So Mexico will have the... Mexican Futbol Liga in Mexico and Mexican League Soccer in the the USA Seriously I don't like the idea except for the player transfer stuff. People are saying it will benefit Mexico more because they currently pay more, but don't forget that if MLS has more Mexicans (not the likes of Luis Hernandez or Hermosillo) who want to come here and play competitively it can help boost the attendance in our league and in return help to ensure its survival in these early years.
I wont comment on the idea just yet since they have not revealed to much information... But i will say this... I think the MLS could gain from this even more so than the MFL. No more MLS PPV shootouts. If its done right, I would expect Univision, Galavision, Telefutura, Azteca America, Telemundo expanded into other markets and televise more games. who knows, with some luck MFL/MLS games that are played on US soil could be broadcasted in English via the spanish channel networks. (just dont put Ty or Rob there). I would prefer a drunk irishmen commentating the games As it is, MLS games are played on Wednesdays, Thursdays. Some games on Saturdays. I am sure something can be worked out. It would be stupid to have MLS games on Monday or Sunday because it competes with American Football. Have there games on friday's and Saturdays. The MFL would gain more money, but the MLS would gain more exposure. Isnt that what most MLS fans want? No more red headed step child treatment by cutting off and going into the Nascar or College Football feed. The TV deal is what interest me the most.
My first thought is seeing OllieSay nodding his head and saying,"Told you so." Upon further review, I hate the idea of the MFL/MLS games counting in the league table. I think it's a great idea for NAFTA country players count as domestic. Yes, MFL money will siphon off some of the cream of American footy, but there should be a goodly amount of talent left behind. Maybe there is a possibility of a winter/summer season split with players on loan both ways. Pairing one of the half dozen strongest leagues in the world with an emerging giant market is a slam dunk. There should be money in it for everyone.
If yout hought the first to five was confusing for the casual american soccer fan..just wait till they try to figure out the standings of interleague play between mexican sides..
i like the idea that north american players would not count against the foriegn player rules, but i am not completely sold on the interleague play. that seems a little cheeky if you ask me. i am not big on gimmicks and mls has had plenty. i would be 100% in favor of an individual competition that was like a mini-champions league, and with the talk of a canadian league this could really be a good idea. the only incentive that mls has on interleague play is the possibility of an awesome latin tv deal.
I like this idea too. It would mean a more varied MLS schedule and Im sorry but it's moronic to think you can be satisfied seeing your home team play against 9 other teams and that's it. If this meant an extra 10 games against MFL teams that would definitely increase the competition. Can you imagine the excitement both HERE and in the US between a Galaxy/Cruz Azul match up? I would pay to see that.