MLS

The MLS Is Back Tournament is sure to excite its fans, but players aren't enjoying their experience so far.

Toronto FC defender Omar Gonzalez posted a picture of his mediocre lunch Tuesday:

The menu attached showed it cost $65 for the all-inclusive lunch, which included a sandwich, potato salad, fresh fruit and potato chips. Breakfast cost $45, while dinners cost $75. 

The price didn't go unnoticed by Toronto FC goalkeeper Alexander Bono:

His teammate, Eriq Zavaleta, showed the ham sandwich wasn't much of a better option:

Kellyn Acosta of the Colorado Rapids called it, "Fyre Festival. MLS edition."

Fyre Festival was a disastrous 2017 event in the Bahamas, which was scheduled to be a music festival but mostly turned out to be fraud. The inadequate food was one of the first tells that guests were not getting what was promised.

MLS players are expecting better conditions for their upcoming tournament, but Alejandro Bedoya already referred to it as a "luxury prison," per ESPN's Jeff Carlisle.

In response to the circulating tweets, MLS representatives told TMZ Sports that the sandwiches in the photos were from a Toronto hotel, not from the Disney bubble that will host the tournament. MLS officials noted players will receive "banquet meal" service while they are in Orlando, with a select group of restaurants also available.

Also of note, MLS added: "Players do not pay for meals."

The MLS Is Back Tournament set to begin July 8.

Major League Soccer confirmed Wednesday that six FC Dallas players tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the MLS is Back tournament, which kicks off July 8.

Two of the six tests were flagged when players first arrived in Orlando, Florida, last Saturday. The other four came in the past two days. All six players were moved to an isolation area inside the hotel that is housing the FC Dallas players.

The club released a statement on the matter:

MLS suspended the 2020 season for at least 30 days in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Action has remained on hold since.

Rather than resuming the season straight away, the league set up a tournament that will run from July 8 through Aug. 11. Each team plays in three group-stage matches, which will count toward their regular-season tally. From there, a 16-team knockout stage will begin.

The event will take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World. FC Dallas is among the teams stationed at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort for the duration of the tournament.

FC Dallas previously announced June 3 one of its players had tested positive for COVID-19. The team briefly halted training to limit the spread of the disease.

Major League Soccer announced Sunday 18 players and six staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus.  

The league has conducted a total of 668 tests of players dating back to early June. Players have been tested every other day since training began as clubs prepare to travel to Orlando, Florida, for the MLS is Back tournament that starts July 8. 

MLS is using Polymerase Chain Reaction tests, and its guidelines call for the completion of two such tests 24 hours apart and within 72 hours prior to the start of training before beginning the every-other-day testing.

The league is mandating that any individual who tests positive while in Orlando must participate in a "clinical assessment by a healthcare provider." Those infected will be moved to an isolation area of their team hotel until they have been medically cleared to leave. 

Per MLS:

"Prior to traveling to Orlando, all players, coaches, referees, club personnel and league staff are required to complete an additional two PCR tests 24 hours apart and within approximately 72 hours of travel. Upon arrival in Florida, all individuals are required to immediately take another PCR test and are quarantined until they receive the results of that test. To date, 329 people have been administered PCR tests on-site, and two were positive, both of which were players who had just arrived."

Players who enter isolation will have access to daily communication with healthcare professionals and receive remote care. The league will also work with Orange and Osceola counties on contract tracing.

Additionally, MLS will provide updates every other day beginning June 30 on the results of its testing process.

The league is not expected to disclose which players or staffers have previously tested positive to the public.

MLS players have announced the creation of the Black Players Coalition, a group that "aims to address racial inequalities in MLS, fight racism in soccer, elevate Black voices and positively impact Black communities across the USA and Canada."

In a statement released Friday, on the Juneteenth holiday, the BPC said over 70 black MLS players have joined the coalition. The organization has received a commitment of $75,000 from the MLS Players Association.

"We pledge to help bridge the racial equality gap that exists in our league by lobbying for initiatives like implicit bias training, cultural education courses, and diversification hiring practices," the statement read. "Beyond addressing these overlooked systemic issues around soccer in this country, the BPC is committed to tackling the racial injustices that have prevented black people from having an equitable stake in society. Among the many goals we will strive to achieve in our black communities, some will include targeted spending, educational advancement initiatives, and mentorship programs."  

Ray Gaddis, CJ Sapong, Quincy Amarikwa, Kendall Waston, Jeremy Ebobisse, Sean Johnson, Bill Hamid, Earl Edwards Jr, Jalil Anibaba, Kei Kamara and Ike Opara are set to be on the BPC's board members. Justin Morrow is the organization's executive director.

"As we celebrate Juneteenth and the coming together of our coalition, we must remind ourselves that such progressivism was once met with vehement backlash," the statement read. "May this reminder serve as a warning to us all that confronting systemic racism head-on will never be a smooth, constantly upward trending path, but rather a timeless battle that will force us to reinvent the very essence of our institutions."

The BPC's creation comes amid nationwide calls to end police brutality and discrimination against black people after the killing of George Floyd in police custody. Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter after kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes, leading to protests across the world. 

The draw for the MLS is Back Tournament saw the 26 teams separated into six groups Thursday:

The tournament will begin on July 8 with all 54 matches taking place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. 

Each team will play three games in the group stage, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the knockout stage. The four best third-place teams will also advance to the round of 16, which will begin July 25.

Though Group A has six teams instead of four, each squad still only has three matches as previously determined by the positioning before the draw. 

Florida teams Orlando City and Inter Miami FC will compete in the opening match of the tournament.

The final is scheduled for Aug. 11.

The 2020 MLS season had only just begun when it was derailed by the coronavirus pandemic, with each team playing just two matches to that point. This tournament allows each team to return to action within a controlled environment, limiting travel and reducing risk for infection.

The group stage matches will also count for points toward the regular-season standings once the 2020 season resumes in full.

Additionally, the winning team will earn the league's spot in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2021. Players are also fighting for their share of a $1.1 million bonus prize pool handed out to the top teams.

MLS announced safety protocols for the event, which includes testing for players and practicing social distancing off the field when possible. High-risk personnel will also not be permitted to participate unless cleared by medical personnel.

Major League Soccer announced Wednesday it will resume play July 8 with a 26-team tournament taking place at the Disney World complex in Orlando, Florida. 

The return follows a newly ratified collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players June 3, providing labor peace through 2025.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber released a statement about the decision:

"The opportunity to have all 26 clubs in a controlled environment enables us to help protect the health of our players, coaches and staff as we return to play. We also recognize that the death of George Floyd and others has focused our country on issues of racial injustice, inequality and violence against black men and women. Together with our owners, players and staff, the League and its clubs are deeply committed to creating meaningful and impactful programs to address these issues that have plagued our society for far too long."

Here's a closer look at the "MLS is Back Tournament" format:

• Dates: July 8-Aug. 11
• 54 matches (39 in group stage; 15 in knockout rounds)
• 26 total matchdays
• Six groups (all contain four teams except one Eastern Conference group with six)
• Orlando City, Atlanta United, Los Angeles FC, Seattle Sounders, Toronto FC and Real Salt Lake will serve as the top seeds
• Tournament draw will take place June 11 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

The top two teams in each pool along with the top four third-place finishers will advance to the knockout rounds. Nashville SC will move to the East for tournament purposes.

All games will count toward the 2020 regular-season standings, and the tournament champion will earn a berth in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League.

After the tournament, MLS plans to resume the 2020 campaign with the goal of crowning a champion as normal. A schedule for the remainder of the year will be released at a later date.

On March 12, MLS added its name to the list of sports leagues that suspended operations amid the coronavirus pandemic. At the time, Garber initiated a 30-day hiatus. The league also placed a moratorium on team activities through March 15 that was extended until individual workouts were cleared May 6.

In a statement when he announced the league was being suspended, Garber said:

"Our clubs were united today in the decision to temporarily suspend our season—based on the advice and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and other public health authorities, and in the best interest of our fans, players, officials and employees. We'd like to thank our fans for their continued support during this challenging time."

On March 19, MLS announced it would continue to postpone events for the next eight weeks per CDC guidelines, though it remained committed to playing a full season in 2020.

The league was forced to halt operations only two weeks into the season. At the time of the hiatus, Atlanta United (2-0) was leading the Eastern Conference with six points. Sporting Kansas City, Minnesota United FC, FC Dallas and the Colorado Rapids were all tied for first place in the Western Conference with two wins and six points apiece.

The Montreal Impact's Maximiliano Urruti had the league lead in goals (3), while NYCFC keeper Sean Johnson topped MLS in saves (13 on 15 shots).

"This is a case where we are all in this together, trying to do everything we can as a club and a society to keep the coronavirus curve as flat as we can," Atlanta president Darren Eales said after the league suspended operations. "They are following the guidelines the league has given us; and understand what we all have to do to keep ourselves and our families safe and healthy."

Bleacher Report's David Gardner interviews athletes and other sports figures for the podcast How to Survive Without Sports.

The Los Angeles Galaxy have agreed to mutually part ways with midfielder Aleksandar Katai on Friday after his wife, Tea, made Instagram posts the team deemed "racist and violent."

Referencing the ongoing protests across the United States against police brutality and racial injustice, Tea Katai wrote in Serbian that authorities should "kill the s--ts" and called protesters "disgusting cattle," per the Associated Press' Greg Beacham.

The Galaxy issued a statement Wednesday addressing the post, writing the team "stands firmly against racism of any kind, including that which suggest violence or seeks to demean the efforts of those in pursuit of racial equality."

The club added it will speak with Katai and "determine the next steps."

Katai addressed the matter on Instagram, writing his wife's posts "were unacceptable" and "not ones that I share and are not tolerated in my family.

"Racism, particularly toward the black community, is not only prevalent in the United States and Europe, but across the globe," he said. "I strongly condemn white supremacy, racism and violence towards people of color. Black lives matter."

Katai was in his first year with the Galaxy and made two appearances before the coronavirus pandemic forced MLS to suspend the 2020 season. The 29-year-old arrived in MLS in 2018 and spent two seasons with the Chicago Fire.

The MLS Players Association announced Wednesday it has ratified a new collective bargaining agreement that will run through the 2025 season. 

"Today's vote also finalizes a plan to resume the 2020 season and provides players with certainty for the months ahead," the union said. "It allows our members to move forward and continue to compete in the game they love."

ESPN's Herculez Gomez reported MLS had set a deadline of 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday for the MLSPA to finalize an agreement, or a lockout would begin.

According to ESPN's Jeff Carlisle, the MLSPA agreed to forfeit more than $100 million in the form of economic concessions. Players will receive pay cuts of 7.5 percent. In addition, bonus money is capped at $5 million.

Taylor Twellman of ESPN reported Tuesday that MLS and the players' union had "a major breakthrough" in negotiations. Carlisle reported team owners relented on the terms of a force majeure clause in the CBA that would've been contingent on match attendances.

If triggered, a force majeure would allow either side to nullify the CBA. MLS had initially wanted to make it an option "if five teams suffer an attendance drop of 25 percent or more from the previous year," per Carlisle.

The specifics regarding MLS' return remain unclear.

The Washington Post's Steven Goff reported May 11 that all 26 teams would move to Orlando and stage a tournament in which teams would play at least five games. Per The Athletic's Sam Stejskal and Paul Tenorio, teams would return to their home cities upon the conclusion of the event, and the regular season would resume.

Bleacher Report's David Gardner interviews athletes and other sports figures for the podcast How to Survive Without Sports.

Negotiations between MLS and the MLS Players Association over starting the 2020 season have had "a major breakthrough," according to ESPN's Taylor Twellman.

Twellman reported that nothing has been finalized but that it appears a lockout will be avoided.

Jeff Carlisle of ESPN provided more details:

"Multiple sources told ESPN that the breakthrough came as MLS backed down from having a force majeure clause tied to attendance and instead opted for an MLSPA proposal that used a more industry-standard approach patterned after the NBA.

"Given the way in which attendance numbers can be presented, with local restrictions potentially impacting the extent to which stadiums will be opened, this was a significant move by MLS."

According to Carlisle, player compensation is an area in which the parties will likely compromise. The MLSPA was prepared to accept a 7.5 percent pay cut, while MLS was aiming for 8.75 percent.

He added that club owners weren't unified in their approach in negotiations. Some wanted to avert a lockout, while others wanted to see the league adopt a more unyielding approach toward the MLSPA.

Carlisle reported Monday the MLSPA had agreed to a new offer on terms for a restart but that MLS "has already pushed back."

ESPN's Herculez Gomez reported the league had set a deadline of 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday for the players' union to accept its latest offer or it would trigger a lockout. Gomez followed up to report the deadline was pushed back to Wednesday.

The Washington Post's Steven Goff reported May 11 that MLS' plan to restart involves moving all 26 teams to the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, Florida. Per The Athletic's Sam Stejskal, the league would also stage a tournament in Orlando that would be separate from the regular season.

The Major League Soccer Players Association announced Sunday night it had agreed to salary reductions for players as the league tries to resume its 2020 season:

The concessions from the players include reduced team and individual bonuses.

Despite the counteroffer, MLS has pushed back, claiming it "won't budge further," according to Jeff Carlisle of ESPN. The league's proposal required an 8.75 percent cut from players, while the MLSPA is offering a reduction of 7.5 percent.

According to Herculez Gomez of ESPN, MLS has created a deadline of Tuesday at noon to come to an agreement and avoid a lockout.

The season initially began in February but each club only played two games before the year was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. After more than two months away, teams were allowed to take part in small training sessions as of Saturday.

A disagreement between the two sides could prevent the season from resuming, although the MLSPA reportedly believes owners are bluffing and the threatened lockout is "a disingenuous act."

There are also disputes about potential changes to the collective bargaining agreement, which was agreed upon in February.

One thing the players and owners have agreed to is a summer tournament played in Orlando.

According to Sam Stejskal of The Athletic, the MLS initially proposed all 26 teams take part in a tournament beginning on June 22 that runs for four or five weeks, with all personnel remaining within the city for the duration. The players agreed to this deal in their latest proposal.