Podcast analyses on recent USSF actions regarding USL/NASL

December 31, 2009

In addition to the various articles that appeared on the web yesterday regarding the most recent USSF decision regarding the USL/NASL dispute, the website SetPieceAnalysts.com ran a series of podcasts with various soccer analysts and commentators discussing the current controversy and what might happen in the next crucial days. Below you can find links to the different podcasts, including 2 featuring PasionNaranja’s editor Kristian Vazquez with the perspective of the Islanders and Puerto Rico soccer.

1) One on One with PasionNaranja’s Kristian Vazquez on the USSF decision and what it could mean for the Islanders and soccer in Puerto Rico: ‘SPA Pod Special #4′

2) Round table discussion with Kartik Krishnaiyer, Brian Quarstad, Richard Farley, and Kristian Vazquez regarding the USSF decision: ‘SPA Pod Special #6′

3) Kartik Krishnaiyer from the Kartik Report appears in this podcast with his first reaction to the USSF decision:

SPA Special Podcast

4) 24thMinute.com’s Duane Rollins with the Canadian perspective on the USSF decision and what lies ahead for second division soccer: SPA Pod Special

Leave a Comment » | Podcasts, USL News | Permalink
Posted by KVD

Varied points of view in USL/NASL controversy

December 31, 2009

With the constant evolution of the controversy regarding the USL and NASL, it’s easy to forget how far back this issue goes and also how many points of view there are on the subject. While the US Soccer Federation (USSF) seemingly sent out their newest press release on the issue in the middle of the holiday season with the hopes that the news wouldn’t receive much attention, the online soccer community was quick to react.

For those readers interested in following the broader discussion on the subject, we’re providing several links below to some of the other great analysis out there from various soccer reporters and bloggers.

1) InsideMinnesotaSoccer.com: Brian Quarstad over at IMS has been following and breaking news on the USL/NASL controversy since the beginning. He has a time-line of articles that provides some good background on the USL issues and how it began. You can find the article here: IMS Time-line.

2) Duane Rollins from 24thMinute.com writes about the USL/NASL from the Canadian perspective and has a nice piece on what the latest news from the USSF might mean for Canadian clubs. ‘BREAKING: USSF says “figure it out boys” to USL and NASL’

3) At SetPieceAnalysts.com, Richard Farley has some excellent analysis on what could happen during the negotiations in the next week and some things all parties should be considering. ‘What Can Happen In Seven Days’

4) Tom Dunmore always has an interesting take over at PitchInvasion.net and this time he states that the big question here is whether or not we trusts in the US Soccer Federation’s decision. ‘US Soccer Rejects USL and NASL – Do We Trust In Their Decision?’

5) Andrea Canales from Goal.com provides an interesting commentary on what the USSF’s motives for their recent actions regarding USL/NASL. ‘USSF Power Play Takes Out NASL ‘

Leave a Comment » | USL News | Permalink
Posted by KVD

USL responds to USSF announcement

December 30, 2009

After the US Soccer Federation (USSF) released a statement today saying that for the time being they will not be sanctioning the USL nor the NASL, the USL responded with a press release of their own.

While not adding much new information to the current discussion, the USL reiterates that they’re confident in having a 2010 season and will move ahead accordingly. The most interesting part of the press release has to be the following sentence:

In support of USSF’s efforts to find a resolution for the upcoming season at its Division II Men’s Professional League level, USL very recently agreed to one of the proposals made by USSF requiring USL-1 and the contemplated North American Soccer League (NASL) to come together for 2010.

With that statement, the USL is essentially expressing their willingness to reach some sort of compromise or consensus with the NASL for the 2010 season. For a while now it has looked to us as though a sort of merger league would be the most viable option for the upcoming year. Having two division II leagues for 2010 seems unlikely at this point. It would be very interesting to see what sort of compromise could be reached to have clubs from both the USL and NASL playing together next year.

You can read the full USL press release below:

…Continue reading

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Posted by KVD

USL/NASL News: U.S. Soccer Board of Directors Votes Unanimously Not to Sanction USL or NASL for Division II Status in 2010

December 30, 2009

Earlier today, the US Soccer Federation released a press statement where they revealed that the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors voted unanimously on Tuesday to not sanction either the USL or the NASL to operate a Division II professional league in 2010. Now, the USL and NASL will have 7 days to try to work out an interim solution for 2010.

Below is the US Soccer Federation Press Release:

CHICAGO (Dec. 30, 2009) – The U.S. Soccer Board of Directors voted unanimously on Tuesday to not sanction either the USL or the NASL to operate a Division II professional league in 2010.

The decision was made on the recommendation of the Professional League Task Force, which determined that neither organization on its own was able to provide a viable and sustainable operation during the upcoming season. Both organizations were unable to meet U.S. Soccer’s requirement of a minimum of eight viable teams for 2010.

Despite the ruling, the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors has given both organizations seven days to try to work out an interim solution for the 2010 season.

“After carefully reviewing the findings from the Task Force it was clear there are still too many uncertainties for both organizations, which would be extremely difficult to resolve in a timely fashion that would allow them to prepare for the 2010 season,” said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. “In the best interest of soccer in the United States, we decided to not sanction either league at this point. However, we did encourage both leagues to come together in the next week and attempt to develop another plan which would allow a single league to be approved on a provisional basis. We are committed to finding ways to improve the long-term viability of all leagues and teams and continue the growth of soccer in the United States.”

Source: USSoccer.com

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Posted by KVD

Update: Federation president confirms USL interests in Puerto Rican clubs

December 10, 2009

Late Wednesday night Primera Hora’s soccer journalist, Esteban Pagan, reported through his Twitter account and also in a brief note that the president of the Puerto Rico Futbol Federation (FPF for their Spanish acronym) confirmed to him that the USL is interested in two Puerto Rico Soccer League clubs as potential USL-1 teams. We reported earlier how Ponce River Plate and Sevilla FC-Puerto Rico had reacted to the offer. While Sevilla essentially saw the interest as an invitation into the USL, Ponce was more cautious and admitted that there’s nothing concrete at this point. Ponce’s club president told us on Wednesday that the team has been contacted through a third party to express USL’s interest and to set up a meeting for next week.

Particularly interesting among Pagan’s comments on this news was that the Puerto Rico Islanders had no idea of USL’s interest in these other two Puerto Rican clubs. Pagan also touched upon the issue of the Islanders having exclusive rights to the Puerto Rico market in the USL. In the end, the Islanders would have to give their approval for Ponce and Sevilla to join the league. One of the PR Islanders owners contacted the FPF president to let him know they were willing to sit down and discuss the possibility of USL expansion in Puerto Rico.

You can access the complete note by Esteban Pagan in Primera Hora: here.

2 Comments | Futbol PR, USL News | Permalink
Posted by KVD

Update: USL interested in Ponce River Plate

December 9, 2009

Your next USL-1 team?

The USL story in Puerto Rico seems to be growing by the day. Earlier today Esteban Pagan, from the Primera Hora newspaper, reported speaking with USL executives Tim Holt and Chris Economides regarding the possible interest of the league in inviting the Puerto Rico Soccer League (PRSL) team Sevilla FC-PR into the USL-1. Economides told Pagan that he hadn’t heard about the possible expansion to Juncos while Tim Holt said there was no interest in adding another team in Puerto Rico.

Interestingly enough, when we spoke briefly with Sevilla FC-PR earlier this week, they mentioned something about Ponce also being invited to the USL. Following up on the possible expansion of the USL in the Island, we spoke with Ponce River Plate’s president Steven Alvarez. Last week we spoke to Alvarez regarding the rumors that they had been invited to join the NASL, which he described simply as rumors and nothing else.

We asked about the alleged USL invitation to Ponce River Plate, to which Mr Alvarez said: “There’s been no concrete offer from the league but we have been approached by an intermediary. The USL is interested in meeting with me regarding the possibility of Ponce playing in the USL. We should be meeting with them next week in order to further explore the possibility.”

When asked if the club is seriously considering the possibility, Alvarez replied that they are very interested in possibility, particularly considering the international competition that the USL would represent. He also told us that the club has been increasing their budget in order to attempt to compete in the CONCACAF Champions League and that the team would have the support to be able to compete in the USL. Alvarez also made sure to reiterate his club’s commitment to the Puerto Rico Soccer League and to the development of soccer in Puerto Rico. “If we compete in the USL, we would make sure to also field a team to compete in the PRSL. We are very commited to this professional Puerto Rican league” added Alvarez.

We will be speaking with Mr Alvarez again next week after his meeting with USL representatives.

1 Comment | Futbol PR, USL News | Permalink
Posted by KVD

Update: USL sues Rochester, Baltimore, and Tampa

December 9, 2009

Kartik Krishnaiyer from The Kartik Report broke the news today that the USL has filed lawsuits against the Rochester Rhinos, Crystal Palace Baltimore, and Tampa Bay Rowdies for breach of contract. These three teams were supposed to play in the USL for the 2010 season but instead, they recently announced their intentions to join the NASL. The USL’s stance on these teams for a while now has been that they were contractually obligated to play in the USL-1 for 2010. It seems that as expected, the league will try to use their apparent legal high ground to salvage whatever they can.

We’ll be posting more details as soon as we have them. Also, make sure to follow The Kartik Report as they’ve been on top of the USL/NASL controversy since the beginning.

Also, make sure to visit InsideMinnesotaSoccer.com as Brian Quarstad there has some expanded commentary on the lawsuit situation: here.

Leave a Comment » | Brief updates | Permalink
Posted by KVD

On USL mess, PR Islanders’ silence is deafening

December 8, 2009

Jolly good times

Throughout the current USL/NASL controversy soccer being experienced in the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada there is one recurring phrase: ‘best practices’. This often comes up when discussing the constant mismanagement from the USL’s part and the potential that the NASL group could actually prove to be capable in running a division II league professionally and appropriately – taking established best practices into account. And if you need a club to exemplify the complete opposite of best practices in terms of running a club and communicating with its fans, then look no further than the Puerto Rico Islanders.

While teams have been jumping the sinking ship that is the USL, the Puerto Rico Islanders haven’t uttered a single word about the current state of affairs or what to expect for 2010. Nothing, nada, zero, zip. While there was recently a brief quote in the Primera Hora newspaper by one of the member of the ownership group, he essentially gave no new information. The PR Islanders are staying with the USL and that’s it – nothing new, as this was what the club was saying back when the whole USL/TOA mess began.

Needless to say, the longtime PR Islanders supporters are on edge. A large number of fans are fearful of not having a 2010 season, or even worse – the demise of the club. And while we constantly hear the back and forth between the USL and the NASL, there is little mention of what will happen to our Islanders. No news on new signings, tryouts, 2010 plans, nothing. With little information, most are resorting to mere speculation and even negativity.

…Continue reading

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Posted by KVD

Ponce River Plate denies NASL rumors

December 8, 2009

Last week, the USL/NASL controversy hit a little closer home when rumors were flying around that the Puerto Rico Soccer League (PRSL) club ‘Ponce River Plate‘ (PRP) had received an invitation to join the newly formed North American Soccer League (NASL). We spoke with club president Steven Alvarez about the NASL invitation and he told us these were just rumors.

Alvarez mentioned that his club was committed to the PRSL and also to elevating the quality of professional soccer on the Island. While he admitted some people had been calling him and inquiring about the prospects of PRP joining the NASL, he said it’s nothing they’re interested in for the time being. The club president also noted that while they won’t close the door on any options in front of them, they expect to play in the PRSL for the 2010 season.

The possibility of NASL picking up the Ponce team was a very intriguing rumor. Ponce and the Puerto Rico Islanders already have a burgeoning rivalry as the two most popular and well funded clubs on the Island. It’s been mentioned several times in the past the Ponce attempted to join the USL-1 a few years ago but that the Islanders ownership blocked their entry.

…Continue reading

4 Comments | Futbol PR, USL News | Permalink
Posted by KVD

USL to expand in Puerto Rico?

December 8, 2009

Earlier today we learned that the Puerto Rico Soccer League (PRSL) club ‘Sevilla FC Puerto Rico‘ (also known as Sevilla FC-Juncos) was approached by the USL this past weekend with an invitation to join the league. Sevilla FC-PR might be relatively unknown in the US and Canada, but the young club made history in Puerto Rico by being the first ever champions of the Puerto Rico Soccer League in its 2008 inaugural season.

With the massive defection of USL-1 clubs to the newly created (or resurrected) North American Soccer League (NASL), it’s no surprise that the USL executives are looking for any viable alternatives in order to possibly repopulate the USL-1 with new clubs in preparation for the 2010 season. According to Sevilla FC’s website, the club is considering the offer quite seriously. Also, the website notes that USL and FIFA representatives will be visiting the Island on December 17th in order to asses the club’s facilities.

So the question for most people watching this USL/NASL debate will be if this is even a serious proposition. After all, we’re not talking about a new club in a top media market – with a population of less than 40, 000 people, Juncos (home of Sevilla FC-PR) isn’t even one of the larger towns in Puerto Rico. On top of that, the Puerto Rico Islanders play only about 30-40 minutes away from Sevilla’s home – a definite market overlap.

In order to put things in perspective, we’ll provide a bit of background about the club and also our initial thoughts of the USL offer.

…Continue reading

3 Comments | Futbol PR, USL News | Permalink
Posted by KVD

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