From Soccer America MLS Confidential Newsletter: "LOAN LOGJAM: MLS players will find it nearly impossible to go on loan to European clubs until January because of new transfer deadlines. Loans and transfers must be completed by Sept. 1 and not until Jan. 1 will a second transfer window open up. Players not registered with clubs by Sept. 1 cannot play for those clubs in official competitions until January and FIFA statutes prevent a player from being registered with more than one team at the same time. FIFA imposed this statute several years ago when Jorge Campos was bouncing back and forth across the border to play in MLS and the Mexican League. Most players are ready for a break but one coming off injury, such as Ben Olsen, would relish a few more months of action. The statutes also prohibit Bayer Leverkusen from registering Landon Donovan to play in 2002. MLS would have to issue an international registration transfer certificate for this to be done. National associations in confederations other than UEFA are supposed to have their league's transfer windows submitted to FIFA no later than Sept. 1."
Re: Re: Re: MLS Players - Loan Logjam and we'll never know which voter made the deciding vote on that 4-3 decision
First, considering how long our season is and how many (few) games they play, I'd think that most of our players would be ready to head overseas if they could keep playing. Second, I'd think Bennie would be the last example you'd want to use as a player want to go on loan in the winter -- isn't that where his problems started?
i don't think this ruling will last very long i think it's pretty easy to come up with a ruling to say no jumping back and forth, if they want to say that is the problem... otherwise, i don't think this is a beneficial rule for soccer in this country and the world
I agree that this will probably make it hard for MLS players to get anything more than "training trips" for Euro teams (who would really just be doing us a favor to let our players train with them). If a loaned player can't start until Jan 1, won't the Euro club probably want the player until the end of their season (i.e. beyond the start of MLS '03 season)? Also, do these restrictions on registration with multiple clubs prohibit an MLS player who is on loan (say to an English D1 team) from returning to the US in April to begin the MLS season? Is there any restriction on MLS picking the player right back up after completion of a loan? This could realy restrict offseason opportunities for MLS players . . .
Re: Re: MLS Players - Loan Logjam No, a loan is essentially a limited time transfer with some other caveats attached (i.e. cup-ties, no sell-ons, etc.). The player's rights would revert back to the original club at the end of the loan. Sachin