Dec. 04, 2004 Players could boycott national-team practice Wizards players say the option has been discussed By PETE GRATHOFF The Kansas City Star At least three Wizards have been invited to the U.S. national-team training camp, which will begin Jan. 3 in Carson, Calif. But those players and the rest of the team may miss part of the 29-day camp, because the U.S. national soccer players' association is contemplating a boycott. The players have been working under a contract that expired Dec. 31, 2002. Mark Levinstein, executive director of the players' association, said negotiations have been ongoing, and he hopes to have a deal worked out with the U.S. Soccer Federation. When asked about a potential boycott, Levinstein declined to comment, but three Wizards players said that possibility has been discussed. Full article from the Kansas City Star here
Yep, I have heard about this as a possibility. The players association is growing very frustrated with the USSF.
Can't wait to see Bruce's reaction if this happens. Someone, either the players or USSF, will suffer his wrath...
Doesn't sound like more than just a kick-in-the-butt wake-up-call for the USSF. Hope they get things squared away. I suppose the USSF has always had a leg up in this negotiation because everyone wants to play ... everyone wants to make it to the WC.
I didnt really see why the players are considering a boycott. Is it the pay? or is it something else?
I'm guessing neither. Unless a situation develops where some players report and others don't, I'm pretty sure the coaching staff will get by with general griping about the situation at large. I'm also pretty sure that the coaching staff, Arena included, doesn't want to burn any bridges with the USSF.
As the USMNT becomes a viable commodity, the rights to control and sell images of players in USSF gear become more and more valuable. There are currently a lot of gray areas when it comes to commercial usage of players images and names.
Arena hasn't seemed like the type of person that has worried about burning bridges in the past. I just think Arena is not going to issue the standard "no comment" if this occurs. He will have an opinion and will give it like he has in the past.
Any player that would bitch out on his team in the final round of WCQ is a guy who's heart clearly isn't in it, and we don't want him on the team anyway, I don't care how talented he is.
No player is going to boycott a call-up to camp. It would be suicide. Bruce would never call them in again.
no one is going to do that. they're just talking about missing a few days of camp to make a point. I think they have a legit gripe. USSF is one of the 4 richest FA's in the world (thank you Nike) and some of that money should be going back the players
GuestGuess thanks for passing this information on. If this happens, I think this hurts young MLS players. Bruce is having this camp to familarize himself and get these players "in shape" for a match little more than a month after camp begins. We'll see. I think this is a good way for the players to rattle the USSF chain and try to continue negotiating. I don't believe for a second that the players would ever conceive boycotting a WCQ.
How come people of your ilk never write, Any federation that would screw its players is a federation whose heart clearly isn't in it, and we don't want those administrators anyway, I don't care how talented they are. It's just amazing how people will unblinkingly side with power. It's, literally, fascistic.
Jo over on the USWNT board broke this news early yesterday. The USWNT's 5 year contract expires on 12-31-04, and their player's union has already commenced an NLRB action accusing the USSF of not negotiating a new contract in good faith. Some speculate that the USWNT is already on strike, since they have not had a practice session since the Olympics. They show up for the friendlies but do not practice. Andy raises an interesting point about gear and equipment sales. I don't know if this is an issue with the USWNT because they formed a fan club, the Ponytail Posse, which sells some gear and evidently does not share the revenue with the USSF. Keep in minds that whatever deal the national team gets the USSF will have to give the USWNT or face another strike. I imagine the median club team compensation for national team regulars has doubled since 1998. For the USWNT, the collapse of the WUSA means national team money is their day job. I know this sounds like the dilemma of the athletic director at Typical State University, but the national team has to generate enough money to cover its costs and subsidize the USWNT at the same financial level.
anyone who wants to support a labor action will be risking their fiuture livelihood making a contribution to making the usmnt... if you don't show up to show arena your goods, then there are others who will...and with the depth of the pool, one misstep could but you in jeopardy... mls and ussf and soccer in general isn't nearly strong enough to survive a labor action... you want the elague to go out of business....let the union drive it out... want the usa not to advance out of the hex...only a labor action could do so....
true, the arguement is with USSF, NOT mls.... still there's an incredible linkage between the two, with NATIONAL match venues tied to MLS venues.... my recollection of the labor action in the mid 1990's had a couple friendlies being played, with a trip to Peru....the lead USMNT guys then boycotted those matches...still there were guys who crossed the picket line... with 30 guys in the pool, I think you endanger your position by supporting the labor action....at least guys 20-30 are marginal at best, and missing camp time could easily cause someone in the 30-40 position to come in, get practice time, impress and the other guy just disappears out of contention
If Bruce is half the manager I think he is, he will split off those on the fence then nuke the bridge to any holdouts.