USSF votes to not sanction USL or NASL

[epjr]

USSF votes to not sanction USL or NASL

CHICAGO (AP) -The board of directors for the U.S. soccer federation has voted unanimously not to sanction the United Soccer League or the North American Soccer League in 2010.

Tuesday's vote came on the recommendation of the Professional League Task Force, which determined neither league would provide a sustainable operation during the upcoming season.

USSF president Sunil Gulati says there are "still too many uncertainties for both organizations.''

The USL and NASL were unable to meet the minimum requirement of eight viable teams, and the board has given each seven days to work out an interim solution.

Gulati says the USSF has encouraged both leagues to come together and develop a plan which would allow a single league to be approved on a provisional basis.

Read more: sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/soccer/wires/12/30/2050.ap.soc.usl.nasl.0211/index.html#ixzz0bELACKx1

[epjr]

Joey Saputo Says NASL and USL Have Reached Agreement

2010 January 7
by Brian Quarstad
According to Duane Rollins and Ben Roycroft of It’s Called Football (ICF) and reported at The 24th Minute, Joey Saputo of the Montreal Impact spoke on Wednesday night to Montreal’s Team 990’s (radio) Noel Butler. Butler reported to ICF that the USL and NASL have reached an agreement that will see both leagues operate in 2010. The name of the league was unknown.

The article goes on to say, the two groups, along with the USSF, are waiting to work out the fine details of the agreement before officially announcing it (likely during the NASL’s AGM next week), but that there would be a season in 2010. Plans beyond 2010 have yet to be worked out

The leagues will run in a similar way to Major League Baseball, with teams playing an interleague schedule and for a common championship. The USSF will sanction the league, eliminating any fear of teams being ineligible for international play.

As reported here yesterday, the new North American Soccer Leagues (NASL) first annual general meeting actually convenes today, January 7, 2009. It will be interesting to see what is reported from US Soccer. Even though Saputo spoke to the media, there is still a strict gag order imposed by US Soccer on all parties involved. Many more details of NASL’s future will be revealed at the AGM this week with the possibility of a new logo as well as a league web site.



www.insidemnsoccer.com/2010/01/07/joey-saputo-says-nasl-and-usl-have-reached-agreement/